That’s the thing that is so bizarre about VPNs. That’s a big company — why do people trust them?

Most users probably don't trust them much at all, but trust them just enough for the very minimal uses they might need them for. I would not use a consumer vpn if my life or liberty depended on it.

How much trust do you really need to lend to them if you're just using it because you want to unblock Netflix or get around your school/work network barriers?

Many people think they are buying some sort of security.

I don't think that's unintentional either. All my targeted ads lately have been for VPNs, and anecdotally every single one has made a huge deal about the dangers of roaming the internet when not "protected" by a VPN. Every single one of my non-tech friends who has asked about security and privacy has had similar misconceptions too.

They have to. It’s pretty much a grey market business at best.