They could have set up a signature with 3rd party apps, those apps could have have charged the apps a couple bucks/required ads in the feeds from reddit/etc. Instead they wanted 100% control and 100% of the data. This isn't -just- about killing off AI scrapers, this is about sending a message that reddit is 100% under the CEO's control for when they have the IPO. Wallstreet does not like "free" stuff, all they see are cost centers and profit centers.