Yes so the informed choice they made was "block gdpr countries" vs "be transparent about our use of personal data".

Every site that gdpr-blocks itself is saying that they intend to extract value from your data and they don't want to tell you how.

No, it can also be saying "I simply have too many other things to do than worry about what the correct data retention or ban appeal or DSA statement of reasons requirement or DSA statement of reasons transparency DB API or UK Ofcom age verification requirements or..."

Sometimes if you're just one person and the EU isn't a core market and you are a small business or non-profit, it's easier to just say, ok you know what, no thanks to all this for now.