They’d use it for something else. Certainly not to keep jobs they believe are useless anyway. Someone up there will decide that the project their niece is working at requires more funding, and a few company cars.

No thank you. :)

People using an alternative to YouTube are already a very specific minority, and the percentage of those using a plugin on a specific client is even rarer. I wouldn’t go so far to call it a ballpark. Or even a rational source.

I would agree with you that the data would be highly suspect. It wouldn’t reflect reality at all and should really not be considered.

On the other hand, YouTube likes and dislikes have been a tool for ages, and they were manipulated. It was never more than a silly toy. It was never accurate data to begin with.

Because sponsoring doesn’t infringe on privacy, is usually controlled by the channel, and is often relevant.

I sometimes feel like I am the only one with that file. Yes sir, I sometimes feel sad when a good piece of software doesn’t have a donation button or license to buy. Even if it does nothing.

Ditched Windows long ago though.

Or even worse:

Thanks. Send a complete log of every software on your system, two videos of the bugs in action, and a detailed analysis of what you’ve had for breakfast.

Hehe, sometimes I wish that I could be snarky like that. ;) Good for you.

I have been told by numerous people these days that there are no free things in life. I write and contribute to FOSS software, and had that exact discussion.

Apparently, I do it to feel good, and for the prestige, a reward in itself. Also, I probably want to make up for something.

“Doing something for free is no excuse to do it badly.”

Some others don’t even know what “free” means." And some don’t believe it at all, that someone is paying me. Probably thinking about influencers or something. Perhaps they saw an ad somewhere and believed I’d see any of that revenue. ;)

I just went with posting the wiki entry about FOSS, and my ko-fi page, and thanked them for their interest. The first two, because they genuinely didn’t know any better, and the third because, well, at least that one is clear. Every user is a tester. Testing is good.