Could someone explain the downvotes? I do not believe this is such a radical opinion. Prior to this change you were still producing content for the YouTube ecosystem for free until you hit 4k view hours. Then you could begin to make a meager amount of money. It is not such a great deal for content creators and now it is even worse.

“I am making content for them for free.”

YouTube is a business.

Hosting and serving your content costs them money.

If your content provides no means to recoup those costs, you’re not doing them a favor, they’re doing you a favor.

You are not making content for youtube _for free_ - because they didn't ask you to do it. You are just making content.

But you did ask youtube to host for free.