This costs money. So we can either be the product or the source of the money needed to run a site like this. We've seen over and over what happens when a service like this is commodified. So they are trying to prevent that.

The source of the money is what I’m worried about. I don’t want to end up being the product - again - even if the original reason had integrity

I totally agree. Which is why their subscription service would be perfect. Think patreon instead of seeing ads.

Ok, yeah, I get that distinction. As long as the subs model can’t be cannibalised