Firstly, yes, Proton started as an email service in 2014, and Proton VPN was added to the offer in 2017.
The case shared above in fact shows that Proton's encryption provides privacy by default - none of the user's emails could be shared with law enforcement despite the data request which we had no legal grounds to contest.
Of course, as any other legally operating company, we have to comply with the local law enforcement. The privacy we provide is reflected in not having access to the data to share with law enforcement, not in refusing to comply (which is not possible for anyone operating legally).