It's alive and kicking, but certainly not on "hacker" "news" or SV.
See all the events like CCC and the fediverse.
I know so many CCC people who have trouble to make a living or are (un/happily) employed by companies that went all in Apple, Google, Mirosoft, AWS.
Many for sure are brilliant brains but they lack to monetize it. To break or stop near-monopoly/walled garden systems you have to dismantle them through the market. Build better/cheaper (primary) alternatives which are free and open (secondary).
IMHO mainstream only values convenience and price, freedom is only a "nice to have" item and when it requires more work it is a no-starter.
> Many for sure are brilliant brains but they lack to monetize it.
...as if selling your brain was the most important thing in life.
> you have to dismantle them through the market
Citation needed.
The large majority of modern technology was developed with public money.
If that hacker ethic lives, it's not in people labelled "hackers" anymore.