Yes most web properties have voluntarily adopted Cf as their only protection option. Do you or I have the power to get hundreds of millions if not billions of these properties off of Cf? No, so yes they're a reality of the Web at this point, sadly. They can be no more avoided than say the tier 1 ISPs.

What’s the other option?

Consumers can pay for Ladybird themselves.

A culture that encourages rewarding creators for their work.

Sure, as long as consumers are not forced to update which will justify a subscription model.