I'd like to ask for evidence for statement 2. This sounds more like your opinion than a substantiated claim.
1. Someone needs to pay the people who write stories. If proof is important you should not object to contributing to the people who work on your behalf.
1. This article is behind paywall, but thanks for posting.
2. EVERYONE should ask for evidence for any/all unsubstantiated claims, no matter where on the opinion spectrum they sit.