Productivity and profits have steadily risen for decades while wages have hours worked have increased.

So business obviously were able to survive and thrive with more employees taking a larger slice of the profits. The businesses would be able to operate just fine.

That’s true of lots of predatory behavior and doesn’t excuse it. Even if 90% of people don’t use them, the whales make it worth it. People with addictive personalities or so much money that it just means nothing to them. And we all suffer for it.