It was one of those few 3rd party Apps that still worked. Apparently dev was in talks with Reddit in obtaining Paid-API-Access, but now they cut off his API-Access mid talks without informing him
My prediction: Reddit is moving toward a YouTube-esque format.
They are going to monetize by allowing creators to make money from their content. This is why they're getting rid of awards. Of course, they'll take a cut which is probably why they're going toward this model.
They have also been moving toward more detailed, identifiable profiles as well.
It for sure has it now but this will increase it tenfold, easily. It's about to get so much worse in the coming year as these changes have time to work.
This is the problem of starting internet businesses without monetisation planning. They start by doing whatever gains users, and then when they want to be profitable they must try to change whilst holding on to the users.
The exact opposite to how businesses ought to be grown.
I don't agree personally, but I think I understand your thought process.
My issue with them changing this up so much is that we already have YouTube and TikTok. We have ways for creators to make money.
Involving money makes Reddit far less likely to be a discussion forum where people have higher-quality discussions based largely on intellectual curiosity. You didn't post to make a dollar, you posted because you wanted to and because you had a desire to share something you know.
There was always room for memes and jokes, of course. There was room for gaming and funny cat videos too. But those were extras for a community that was (long ago) built on being nerdy, tech savvy, interested in science, politically progressive, anti-religious, etc.
Reddit has been drifting away from that for a very long time unfortunately. But this will be the final nail in the coffin.