To the point where (I think?) you need to buy something from them to get a question read on the podcast(?)

That's pretty normal in the podcasting/streaming/video world, although usually at smaller scale. Most of these people work with a "subscribe to my patreon to get access to the fan-discord" and questions/suggestions for the show come from the fan-discord.

I can't fault them for the hustle normally - that's the business they're in. But yeah, plugging stuff in an apology video is grotesque.