lure creators with seemingly good offers and then start to hold them hostage in ways YouTube hasn't dared so far.

Like Smosh?

Young up and coomers, first giants on YouTube. Sold their channel and brand for stock. Then were tied to the company for years who worked them like dogs. Until the company that bought them went bankrupt so their stock was nullified and they in the end sold their company for $0.

I wouldn't say YouTube was free from it