If thats so, nobody would be buying likes and followers on YT / FB / Twitter

Wash-zaps have even higher effect than fake likes, because they give the impression they represent sats.

The false equivalence between sats and "public semi-valid proof of payment associated with my name" (wash-zaps) => not only can you buy clout on Nostr, but you can buy "good samaritan" clout.

Best part is: all this, without ever having to spent one sat.