There are news outlets with multiple employees that are able to make it work this way. Obviously, it’s very hard, but it’s possible. A factor that probably plays against THO is that he doesn’t show his face, which is 100% his right. However, I have seen video essayists who were successful for years without showing their face, and eventually decided to show it. Statistically, I think it’s fair to say that showing your face makes a huge positive difference to how people respond to you. But it doesn’t mean you can’t be successful if you don’t do it. It’s just harder.
I don’t know if THO has ever done this, but a thing that can really help grow your audience is when you do collaborators with other YouTubers and podcasters.
I definitely think his ask was bold and direct at the end, and I think it was fair for him to do that. However, I am confident that if THO didn’t need the Proton money, he would have still publicly called them out for ghosting him.