What makes the blue checkmark now look so bad is they are boosting tweets based on it, so the whole notion of twitter as a democratic free speech platform has just been flushed down the toilet. Twitter is now biased in favor of those who can afford $100+/yr to get their opinions heard, which unfortunately for many American families is a big deal.
It also makes people who pay for it look a bit desperate for attention - for that extra boost.
Sure - plenty of other places to talk other than Musk's living room, but still a shame to see it get destroyed given lack of any real alternative. It did/does provide some value.
It also makes people who pay for it look a bit desperate for attention - for that extra boost.