[quote]YouTubes algorithms are terrible.They are overwhelmed by the volume of content, so the always take the path of least resistance to do anything.[/quote] I don't doubt that, but the begging is exactly why YT dropped using likes as means of recommending videos. [quote]It's easy to say the content should stand on its own when you aren't the one losing money by not doing these things.[/quote] No, it's easy to say as their target audience, who watches hours of YT a day, but stays clear of these videos. Besides, if they can't afford to do it, then they shouldn't be doing it. [quote]But they are doing this for a reason, and most of them make it clear that they don't look like it anymore than we do.[/quote] But it doesn't work. Look at this thread, it drives people away. Instead of taking the hint, they only got more aggresive, using baitier titles/screenshots, longer begging intros, etc. YT isn't 'making them do it', they think they're exploiting an algorythmic weakness that hasn't been there in about a year. Take a look at some of the recently trending channels. A good example is Carlsagan42, I've never played Super Mario Maker, I don't even own a Nintendo, so this isn't me being biased or anything, his channel just proves that algorythm has changed. His videos are regularly 40+ minutes long, he's been around since about 2013, but his channel took off at the start of 2016. And nowhere in his videos does he actually ask for likes or subs except for on the end card after a 50 minute-long video.