I actually don't think that's the story here. The story is that irrespective of content, the YT algorithm optimises for maximum viewing time, and it takes the behaviour of other people into account when making recommendations to you, to an extent that seems to cause a snowball effect once the recommendations start.

What if YouTube... didn't do that? It's already enormously successful, and could just show you other shows by the same user in the post-roll. Or videos in the same category.

YT pushed changes to optimise view numbers at absolutely any cost, because they could. But that doesn't mean they have to.