Maybe it has something to do with money. From what I understand, Kick.com pays something like 95/5 to the streamer vs. 70/30 with YouTube and 50/50 with Twitch. The founders of Kick.com have shady backgrounds and they have less moderation which attracts those streamers accused of homophobic, misogynistic, and predatory behavior.
edit: corrected numbers
So basically, Vermont is just one giant Etsy shop.
While that is true, from what I understand from reading up on this topic some more, Nintendo (for example) has always taken a 20% cut, even on physical games and retailers would take ~25% in addition to another ~5% by the manufacturer. With physical sales, the publisher could expect about 50% of the sales while with digital sales you can expect roughly 70%. Of course, this doesn't even take into account things like licensing fees. I am sure this is all very simplified and subject to change, but it gives us a rough idea of where the money is going - in the pocket of the publisher.
Sources (not the best but there isn't a lot of public data on this): https://www.konvoy.vc/newsletters/evolution-of-console-business-models https://www.serkantoto.com/2020/12/30/price-video-console-game-digital-physical/ https://www.zeldadungeon.net/forum/threads/game-price-breakdown-digital-vs-physical.62076/ https://globalxetfs.co.jp/en/research/video-games-esports-building-on-2020s-rapid-growth/index.html
And the publisher will state something like "industry standard" or something like that which really means "we charge $80 because other people charge $80." In reality, they no longer have to worry about printing games (so that cost is gone) and no longer have to compete for shelf space, there is infinite supply (digital games), the cost of technology decreases over time, and the increase acceptance of DLC and digital marketplaces. The increase of prices only benefits overall profits and is anti-consumer. The consumer does not see a decrease in prices when they fire thousands of people or other expenses are cut. Instead they just raise the price. 100% greed.
I would eat it on a burger but beetroot (that you listed) does not sound appetizing.
I knew about the Epstein thing and it is pretty offensive but unsurprising. What is surprising is what I just read about the developer in 2005 who mentioned taking time off for the birth of his daughter, essentially implying that contributing to Emacs was a more valuable contribution than having children. That is messed up.
Even worse, apparently there were also old blog posts where he discussed the legalization of sex with minors and child pornography, arguing that certain acts should be legal "as long as no one is coerced" and are only illegal due to "prejudice and narrow-mindedness."
He's not a great guy. I appreciate the work he has lead with free software, but he's said some pretty screwed up stuff.
Sources:
While, I'm not sure if you're in the US or elsewhere, here is my response from a US perspective. Another consideration is what carrier do you use, especially if you're in the US. A phone with a user-replaceable battery that is under $300 is going to be hard to find, at least new.
My recommendation for a new phone would be the CMF Phone 1. While the battery isn't user-replaceable in the "pop out" sense, it is designed with a more accessible battery for easier replacement than most modern smartphones. https://us.nothing.tech/products/cmf-phone-1
For used, this is also challenging. If you can find a Fairphone 3 or 4 in the US that works with your carrier, that would be perfect. The Fairphones have batteries that are removable by popping off the back cover. They are typically around $300 I think.
While I think it would be too hard for most people to be completely free of proprietary software, atleast he is practicing what he preaches. It is a nice goal to someday get there, but I don't think its realistic at the moment.
Kind in mind, though, he is 72 and I don't think he even codes anymore. His computer use probably only consists of mostly Emac (for all text based work) and a web browser (which I read he has a very particular method that involves something similar to wget, lynx, and konqueror). His computer use is very light (I imagine) compared to many Linux users.
While I aspire to and appreciate what the FSF advocates, I don't see a realistic path for myself as a Linux gamer. The proprietary firmware limitations alone would keep you on 2015 hardware.
Source: https://kottke.org/15/05/how-richard-stallman-does-his-computing
Because Debian does not meet the strict requirements of the FSF. It includes non-free blobs in the kernel and the FSF claims Debian "steers" users with recommendations for installing non-free plugins or codecs. Some "contrib" packages, while free themselves, exist primarily to load separately distributed proprietary programs. There are also references in the Debian documentation and official channels that suggest obtaining non-free software for functionality.
edit: typos
Also, incase you're wondering, Richard Stallman uses Trisquel GNU/Linux.
This is impressive. Its amazing how well GNU/Linux (Debian in this case) can run on low-ram systems, especially if you don't use systemd.
My main point was it is probably about the money. Afterall, streaming is a business and a difference between what site pays versus the other can be huge.
I then added about the shadiness, agreeing with what you wrote in the OP that "people dislike Kick saying it is less ethical." I will expand upon that idea since you are accusing me of having an "proletarian" agenda. The "shady" part is based on the founder's background in online gambling (stake.com), particularly crypto gambling, as ethically questionable due to potential for addiction, financial ruin, and regulatory grey areas. Also, the purpose of Kick, especially in the early days, was suspected to be a way to funnel traffic to Stake.com.
Even more, with the shadiness, Kick's stated goal is "creator-friendly" moderation and avoiding "cancel culture," the effect of their looser policies has been that controversial streamers (especially those who lean right or have been associated with right-wing talking points) find a more welcoming home there. This leads to the "right-wing coded" perception.
Streamers weigh both the financial elements and the ethical environment when choosing a platform. For many, Kick's controversies make it more complex.