I still watch from time to time. I think his channel is a example of the way YouTube has gone overall with many channels , the sincerity has gone out of it, the fun of it, now it’s all about advertising, sponsors, getting that cheque, being a brand.
It’s not just James, it’s a sign of the times really. I would be watching a video about a crime and in the middle of the video it stops to promote a protein powder or virus protection software . It reminds me of the Truman Show, where Truman is arguing with his wife and she suddenly starts advertising coffee.
When Avgn first started to grow, I thought YouTube in general was at its best back then , there was a fun feeling about it, now it’s more like a business , it dictates the content , telling people what they want to hear , keep that Patreon going, super chats etc. It all feels a bit soulless from a viewer standpoint.