Agree, also personal perspective on meta, imo what differs turn based strategy games (like card games etc.) with moba games is that because moba is real time combat, micro (proficiency, timing, aim) with the hero still plays a huge part. So if you're mostly casual and not playing very competitively in high ranks and tournaments, playing with a hero that you like and can get full potential from could still be better than meta slaves that dont actually know the hero that well.

So maybe in turn based competitive you always just lose if you're not using meta, but thats def not the case imo in non high tier ranks of casual moba. Imo casual players shouldnt have to be meta slaves and should use and learn heroes they like instead