A great few points you mentioned and I totally agree on the point that a game without stream is hard to predict and analyse and it is more like virtual soccer and simulated sports.
I was so good when tennis matches were being done normally because there is a certain nature like Roger Federer is expected to break serves less often than what a player like Nadal would do so I was good at predicting tennis but now that no proper tennis games are going on I can't make much bets although Thiem7 has been done and some great players play in that tournament including Dominic Thiem himself.
This is the reason why others became more excited to watch live games due to excitement and that is betting. Even before betting was already introduce because this is the way to show their support towards the team or player the love to win in the match.
This activity just being made more aggressive and it is already consider as gambling. It began to make more excitement over the period of time due to changes from betting style to betting opportunity giving fair bets and flexible terms.