Ever wonder why traditional intermediaries keep existing when the systems they guard are questionable? The agent model in sports raises real questions about player autonomy—but here's what's stranger: we've moved into digital assets like NFT collections, and somehow the pattern repeats. Projects promise direct creator-to-fan connection, yet investors still get caught holding bags. If the old financial world already nickels-and-dimes us through gatekeepers, why should we trust that Web3 alternatives operate differently? The moment money flows, incentives shift. That's the uncomfortable conversation worth having before trusting the next big digital asset push.