[buboard]

> content creators are NOT customers

Sure they are customers, i 'm sure if you search their Tos they will even call them customers. If they don't then they have to consider them employees, pay benefits etc. (Similarly to how Uber's clients are its drivers)

> YouTube servers don't grow in the wild

They do, youtube is losing money and is only kept alive because google pays for it. They make money indirectly even when demonetized videos are viewed, since they keep users returning to the site. Google has an anti-competitive interest to keep running youtube, they are not doing charity.