Right, so we're agreed most of the websites that show a banner need to show a banner or equivalent to obtain consent because they are collecting data that the G

Right, so we're agreed most of the websites that show a banner need to show a banner or equivalent to obtain consent because they are collecting data that the GDPR requires they gain consent to collect. In that case then, a banner is the best and least intrusive way to do that, given the alternative is a popup or redirect. Thus, for many of these sites, the GDPR does directly mandate the banners.