We can always trust HN to blame the (l)user rather than the businessmen. Even to blame “markets” rather than to blames businessmen.
It is of course unfathomable that any businessmen might have leaned into and promoted this current model. They could have never have sought out to leverage free product+network effect in order to build their business on user data. They would never. They are after all just businessmen, mere puppets of the depraved luser.
You are right but both are right. The market and the user pushed the idea of free as in beer (confusing it with freedom) and businesspeople were happy to do everything you describe.
It is of course unfathomable that any businessmen might have leaned into and promoted this current model. They could have never have sought out to leverage free product+network effect in order to build their business on user data. They would never. They are after all just businessmen, mere puppets of the depraved luser.