You're missing the core difference which is that I get to choose. Many people live in areas where only one ISP offers a competitive service, they don't get to c

You're missing the core difference which is that I get to choose. Many people live in areas where only one ISP offers a competitive service, they don't get to choose. If there's three ISPs in my area and they all sell my data, I don't get to choose. If all of your social circles use one social network to organize events and you want to be in the loop with them, you don't get to choose. Etc. In all of those cases, you don't have a say in who gets to munch on all of your data. When you use a VPN, you choose who you trust with your data, which also means you can change your mind later if need be. In the other scenario you cannot.