[HJain13]

> I'd strongly consider paying for YT if it were an independent company

YT wouldn't be YT if it was an independent company. Lack of competition in the field is a proof

[xigoi]

YouTube was bought by Google after it was already massively popular.

[peoplefromibiza]

YouTube was just 18 months old when Google bought it and it had just started to fend off very costly copyright claims. It was popular, but 2006 popular.

[quags]

YouTube was also unprofitable at the time. With out google backing youtube it may have gone the way of Napster.

[lisasays]

By this logic, Netflix shouldn't be Netflix (or in its current market position) either.