I made a couple of youtubes once, cost me a microphone for maybe 50€ because I wanted a cordless one for other uses, but a 20€ one would totally do it too. Then mounted it in some FOSS app and upload it for free... Not expensive at all.

I don't know why you're so confused, and condescending? There are loads of youtubers that live off youtube, so you have to learn to cut through the bullshit, but they convey real information, that yes you have to stitch together yourself, knowing it's not perfect. Ukrainian youtubers have their bias, americans theirs etc. There is not a one information pool to get it all from, never have been.

You sound like you only have experience with usa tv and joe rogan like youtubers.