I wonder if this trend has any connection with the rise of dating apps? Dating apps tend to be overwhelming for women, so they don’t use them. Men are often unsuccessful on them. It ends up hurting the self worth of a lot of users. And men who feel like they aren’t getting seen are exploited for premium subscriptions. If men are looking for an explanation or advice to the dating world, someone like Tate could be very appealing.
The fact that all the heroes are free from the start is a big reason I prefer Dota.