[FirmwareBurner]

> all advertising is fake nowadays, so it is hard to compete while being honest. Can't blame them.

Not just advertising but most things that are done online, like dating or job applications. You might be the only job candidate with an honest profile, but if the other candidates have fake inflated their profiles to stand out more, then your resume won't pass the ATS screening because the overabundance of inflated resumes raise the bar even for the honest ones.

Competing in the online attention economy is hell. It's like being in rock concert and trying to attract the attention of the bass player from the middle of the crowd. It devolves into a constant numbers-game arms race between those doing the screening and those seeking the attention, while those refusing to take part in it or are playing honestly by the rules, end up loosing the most.