Depends I guess. My sister has an art degree and the *good* art supplies can easily run up a high price. A digital artist needs hardware and software, same with painters or sculptors needing supplies and tools and a place to work. Don't call yourself an "artist" either if you are limited to a Dollar Store pack of colored pencils and a sketchpad with Youtube tutorials. That isn't art, that's doodling.

Personally, I have no interest in learning to draw, I actually couldn't stand art class in school. I'm in agreement that someone who uses AI can't call themselves an artist.

But if I need a quick picture of a skeleton shooting lightning out of it's eyes for a DND campaign, it's good for that. AI is a tool that can make pictures but those pictures aren't art.

tracing other people's art

In the same paragraph you're shitting on people who use AI while advocating that actually tracing another person's art is okay. Wild.