I think you gravely misunderstand. Companies do not have to show cookie banners, if they have other legal grounds for processing user data. The intended effect

I think you gravely misunderstand. Companies do not have to show cookie banners, if they have other legal grounds for processing user data. The intended effect of the law is actually just that: Companies processing only data they absolutely need to. Your strategy for protesting the (totally sensible) EU law seems strange: "Let us openly break the law, let the EU announce that we broke the law, refuse to do anything about it, let the EU announce that they will fine us until we stop doing business in EU and then hope that the users take our side". Seriously, I'm interested in what PR message you intend to come up with that convinces users the EU is at fault for you mishandling people's data.