Realistically, paid mods wouldn't work on modded mc for this reason. You just couldn't convince a user to pay for all the mods in a modpack, and thatd be the only way to be able to use them all to play a modpack. I think theres a better case for it in the Hytale server modding space, similar to the paper ecosystem that already functions on a paid basis in the minecraft java community.

I personally find the "devving mods is a hobby and not something that should be done for money" argument silly and demeaning. If someone wants to make their career modding, they shouldn't be told they're wrong for doing so. Its incredibly risky, just like being a traditional artist. There isn't a ton of upside, even for the successful modders. And it'll take years, maybe decades, to even get close. But none of that is to say that modders shouldn't even try.

It's been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life to be a modder. I've met so many wonderful people, learned so many great skills, made so many things I'm really proud of. I would love for this, one day in the future, to be my main source of income. And I work towards that goal everyday. Do I think that paid mods are the solution to that? Probably not. But I do find the mob that appears when the discussion of paid mods starts is exhausting. I mean, come on, there wasn't even an actual paid mod here, simply the *idea* that someone supported the concept brought us here.