You don't give your house keys to your home security system provider. Giving kernel access to anything, even if it's for your own good, is dumb. People don't understand the risks that come with it. People just think what the companies tell them to think. As a matter of fact, there are still cheaters in valorant. Vanguard isn't perfect, it can still be bypassed. VAC works fine for what it is, and it could still be refined. It bans more people monthly than Vanguard.

The biggest reason for kernel level anticheats is your sweet sweet data and more control of your computer. You don't need them. We have been playing online games since the 90s, and none used kernel anticheats. It was never necessary to sell your computer to Tencent in order to play a game which, again, still has cheaters.

Valve must be doing something right behind the scenes. I haven't encountered a hacker since May and play regularly. To be fair, back then the game was unplayable.