The software to run a server for a game is different from the client software. I have to buy Minecraft to be able to download and use the client, but the server is freely available for anyone to host their own server.
Developers almost always release their server software for free if they offer it. The user is providing a service to the developer by offering another server for the community to use without the developer having to pay for it. There's no reason to charge for it.
You can even password protect your server and put it behind a patreon or other exclusive membership, but it's hard to compete with free servers. You have to offer some kind of special experience.
Everything you're complaining about has been common practice in the PC space for decades.
We just got vertical align last month. There's so many things they should be working on but are too busy trying to add more ads or monetization features.
I think the web is just too long in the tooth at this point but there's nothing we can do.