It's how YouTube content creators get recognized unfortunately. They gotta market themselves alongside their material, else they don't get a following. Nature of the beast. I hate it too.
I kinda figured as much. I’m sure the content is fine on the vast majority of them but when I used to use YouTube as a form of entertainment those types of videos were not my cup of tea. Perhaps there is data to suggest we are outliers.
It maybe isn't for the viewers but if the channel is her job then obviously she's going to do what will make her get more viewers and hence more money.
YouTube is cancer. They have made this the way you get content and likes. Creators spend hours trying to get a proper thumbnail since it has such a huge impact.