When you describe it this way, and I think it is an accurate perspective, it feels like the situation calls for a "new" OS to fill the space the others have abandoned. An OS for people who actually understand something about computers but are not just trying to exploit that knowledge for money.
IMO, the market these OS are targeting generally has no idea what "bloat" even means in the context of computers. The exceptions include people who do understand the concept but are happy to trade bloat for profit.
Nobody wins when the public isn't educated, that much I can agree with. Our goal needs to be shifting to a more equitable digital world, where people aren't "the product" so to speak. That begins by putting the user in control of their own computer, even if it isn't something they're fully capable of understanding or managing themselves. It's always safer for someone to blindly use open source software instead of proprietary software. If the end user truly "doesn't care", then they ultimately won't notice the difference. Eliminating the silly social pressures around computing will hopefully pave the way for a more empowered, creative and effective user.
IMO, the market these OS are targeting generally has no idea what "bloat" even means in the context of computers. The exceptions include people who do understand the concept but are happy to trade bloat for profit.