Some are, but not all. That’s why you do your research and pick reputable services. I’ve been a happy user of Mullvad & protonvpn for years. They’ve had ample opportunities to mitm me, but I reckon if it hasn’t happened by now it probably won’t

What makes you think it hasn't happened?

How do you know it hasn't. ;)

airvpn is also good. but it's true that most of vpn are just snake oil, to steal user data.

tell that to the people who get letters from their isp threatening to cancel service for downloading torrents

vpns have their use case, they're definitely not snake oil

I'm assuming if you are getting let's you are in violation of TOS you agreed to.

Advocacy aside, the solution is to not. I know a lot of people can't pick another provider but at the same time they probably didn't need what they were torrenting...

Now do I think what I do with my internet is my problem and my ISP can go f themselves. Yes, but I'm also in the privileged position to have many options and quite a few have the "its your internet connection, we will inform you about throttling if we have a technical reason, also if the police asks we are compelled by law to do x"

A VPN does not solve your problem and isn't advocacy, it's at best bootlegging.

We’re on HACKERNEWS and you’re here white-knighting corporate TOS.

i guess hacker culture is now "just pay for your netflix subscription and shut up"

For the average person? Sure. For someone trying to access region blocked content? No. For someone trying to torrent files? No. For someone trying to do... uh... hacker things? No.

VPNs have their uses. The vast majority of people don't need VPNs, but some people do find a use for them.

I think you will find that the real answer is not so simple.

I really wished such dogmatism was not so rampant in the technical world.

"As a rule, strong feelings about issues do not emerge from deep understanding." -Sloman and Fernbach