Then a lot of people are objectively wrong. The license is an incredibly important and central part of what makes code open source or not. What you're describing is "source available". Failure to pay attention to the licensing can end you up in very big and expensive legal trouble. I strongly encourage you to update your terminology for you and anyone you communicate with's own safety.

The license isn't enforcable everywhere the same way. Typically a license is in a project but not always. It's kind of on you to figure that out.

Again: most people I know don’t care. Many used to. Hell, I used to.

If they use a licence, they just throw WTFPL on it and call it a day like me.

What’s the worst risk? Someone in America sues me? Big deal.

Valve has two EU-based subsidiaries who can sue you on the parents behalf.