The only thing you're "protecting" yourself from by using a vpn to surf the Internet, is your own provider. It won't stop any spying software on your phone, or any nefarious scripts on the websites you visit.

Tom's argument was more nuanced than that, which is why I linked it. I suggest you watch it and explain where he's wrong if you want to give your argument to ignore him any weight. Ad hominems and "imagined" arguments alone won't get you very far, I'm afraid.