You perfectly captured the essence of how the internet and the digital content market have evolved. The battle against the distribution of digital content without consent is a pointless fight, and the real opportunity lies in something more valuable and intangible: community and the connection between creator and audience.
The key to the future, as you pointed out, lies in abandoning the barriers to accessing the content itself and embracing people's willingness to support. Instead of limiting and protecting content, the idea is to open doors to communities where people can connect with the creators they love, feel part of something bigger, and at the same time have the chance to contribute voluntarily.