But honestly Nikki, I don't think that effort amount should be a reason to dislike/like anyone. This isn't as political as people want to make it out to be. There are politics involved, but not to the degree some people seem to think. It really boils down to the viewers. No one forces them to view anything. So you got famous because you have the cutest cat on earth? I understand the hurt that arises when you see something like that thinking "but I put all this effort in" But that is not the cat owners' fault. Youtube wants what it wants, some people try their a** off to give them what they want and they never respond. Some people just upload themselves doing some every day mundane activity for their friends, and overnight they are a star.
It's just the nature of the beast, the reality of the game, the way the cookie crumbles, and any other sayings you can think of that apply. If I had no talent whatsoever at all but I got captured on video laughing and found out that youtube adores my laugh and it went viral. Then a bunch of executives approach me about doing a show based around me just laughing at stuff and I'd get paid for it, I certainly wouldn't be like "Sorry guys, that's not fair, some youtubers work really hard on their videos and get paid nothing, I couldn't possibly accept your money just because I have a unique laugh" PFFFT screw that! I'd take that money in a heartbeat and anyone who wants to say I'm a sellout/jerk/fake whatever they want can suck it! I'd be an idiot not to jump on that opportunity! It's not like the elite youtubers were handpicked by a viral video picking robot.