From how I’ve heard some YouTubers talk after doing something like this and living with it for a while, I don’t think it’s quite the same. They generally start the channel with something they care about and enjoy, then based on feedback that can shift… in many cases to something they don’t actually enjoy and isn’t fulfilling, and after hitting a breaking point they make a drastic change back or simply quit. It may take longer to build an audience if they stick to what they like, but those people will be a more true audience and the person can make what they want to make instead of feeling like they need to put on a mask. It’s less about being loyal to the audience and more about being loyal to themselves.