This is on the assumption that the original buyers are only buying to make a profit. What if NFTs are simply patreon for whales? In that context I think they'r

This is on the assumption that the original buyers are only buying to make a profit. What if NFTs are simply patreon for whales? In that context I think they're a great idea, allowing people with plenty of spare money to support creators they love while having a token they can use to show how big of a fan they are. In response to energy use: what powered these networks before decentralization? Many humans all over the world, expending energy to distribute these goods and ensure they are legitimate. This wasn't free energy, these people could have spent their time on other things. It's simply more visible and calculatable now that computers are doing that work.