[JackCh]

> "On Android, not a lot of people are sideloading most prefer the App Store even if they also take a steep cut."

I don't think that's comparable at all. Patreon is an entrenched 1:N (one website for many creators) method for giving money to your favorite youtube creators; youtube's new system is late to the game. Youtube is late to the game here in the same way that Amazon's Appstore was late to the game on Android (which I think maps better to this scenario than generic sideloading, since both Play Store and Amazon Appstore are both 1:N app distribution methods, just as Patreon and youtube are now.)

[_up]

My argument was more about "discovery". Discovering Content via Play Store or Youtube search is much more convenient.

You also get "stickers" that highlight your comments/chat which is also a value only the native platform can give you.

[JackCh]

Conversely Patreon gives you a low signal:noise forum away from the din of the youtube comment section. This is something both users and creators enjoy. Many creators I'm subscribed to have reported that their patreon discussions are more fruitful and interesting because only serious people are taking part. They don't have to filter out, even visually, the rabble from the informed and passionate. Youtube can highlight member comments in some attempt to replicate this, but I think being off-site is part of the value here.

As for discoverability, you discover patreon accounts by viewing the videos of creators on youtube. Unless youtube starts banning links to Patreon (this would be evil, but I wouldn't put it past them), there isn't a discoverability problem.