Isn't the whole point of AV1 that it's royalty free, as opposed to H264/265/etc?

For the codec, sure. But there can always be more restrictions on the IP block, driver code, etc.

Yeah, and the main problem with HEVC/H265 is the patent encumbrance. Very odd, but hopefully it's just coming a bit later.

It started like that. But now there are at least 2 different patent pools that want rent.

Have they successfully gotten any?

AV1 is designed to be license free, so unless they outsourced their driver development to another company I don't think there's anything to license.