That's false. First, it reduces the number of ads, second, it gives you many pro features like long tweets, edit button, and increased visibility in certain situations.
Some people do have a legit need for some level of verification. However, I also find a surprising number of people who seem to be quite deeply invested in the status, for lack of a better word. This really started pre-Musk when a blue checkmark theoretically meant you were notable (on some axis).
Guess people have a natural aversion to paying for someone else to not do something. It kind of makes sense.
I mean arguably you're not even paying them to not do something, you're paying them to make it easier for you to not do something, and to not complain when you refrain from doing so.
The web is weird when you try to insist on the original meaning of 'user-agent'.