I see your point now, but I disagree. Yes, signing a few API users would "increase profit" but not as much as the profit they can (or perceive they can) genera

I see your point now, but I disagree. Yes, signing a few API users would "increase profit" but not as much as the profit they can (or perceive they can) generate by having control over their platform/clients. With control they can employ whatever dark patterns they want to extract as much value as they can from ads. Some suggest ads by API but still that's nowhere near the same type of control/guarantee. Ultimately this even strengthens my point. They want profits above all else. They are choosing the highest potential profit over the less profitable API deal that could be a nice middle ground. In capitalism it doesn't matter if a better alternative costs a single cent more. If there is a choice, it will be to save that cent.