Stealing was just a simple metaphor. It does not have to be an illegal act. Say cheating on your wife or girlfriend. That is not illegal. I knew guys who would cheat at tennis FFS. The point is that a person is responsible for their own actions.
When I was really young I used to shoplift. I was not rich but the things I stole I could afford. I stole them for the challenge, the thrill if you like. Then I grew up a bit and realized how wrong what I was doing was. I did not stop because I got caught or was afraid of getting caught. I stopped because I became mature enough to know right from wrong.
Just because the Patreon system allows developers to milk the system. Still does not make it the fault of the system. Any more than cheating on your woman is OK because it is legal. If you cheat is it your wife or girlfriend's fault for trusting you? By the same token. Is it the fault of the Patron for trusting the creator to do the right thing either?
The fault lies squarely on the developer. Not the system. If the idea being put forth. Is that it is nieve to have a moral compass. Call me nieve, then. But I sleep very well at night without guilt. A happy sucker.
I just read the lost post. I hate to say it but it seems that personal accountability has gone out the window in the 21st century. Things are always someone else's fault. Democrats, Republicans, evil corporations, or pick your poison. And I am not talking about anything religious here. Go ahead and blame Patreon if you so choose. I will blame creators who game the system, myself.
I am just expressing a personal world view. People are free to think is they choose. No skin off of my nose as it would be. It's just how I see it and nothing more.
BTW, that last post has to be done via a translator. No one was "accusing" you of anything. Your opinion is not subject to "accusation", just "observation" or "debate".