> This goes to content creators

Part of it, the rest goes to Google to reinvest in their ads business.

Or to, you know, maintain probably the single most data intensive service in the internet. Just a thought.

I'm pretty sure, that by this logic, if you combine all the "$15/month" things that someone should have money for, they'll eventually be left without any of that money. Every goddamn website wants $15 per month, and even after they get it, they still show you ads. Even youtube, if nothing else, there are the in-video ads ("this video is sponsored by,...") that an adblock skips.

This person likely can afford it and some others without any noticeable impact, I just don't find it appropriate in that circumstance. If you get $15 worth, and can afford it, pay $15, plain and simple.

Of course they have $15/mo. Whether they want to pay is another question.