It looks like Telegram sold the US government a back door to users' messages.

Because you assume all messages will be relayed to AI?

Yes

"if it's free, then you are the product" applies here.

Yes, this is why I switched from free Linux to paid Windows. I don't want to be the product.

Linux makes you to work so hard to get it working sometimes that I can't imagine anyone would consider it free (half-joking)

edit: at least you can get it working, though

You're being deliberately obtuse

It's just a troll (although not valid in this context) counter-argument to the saying above.

This is a tired, and untrue cliché. Everyone is the product, all the time.

Not at all true, there are many services I pay for where I am not the product.

I also use much OSS software where I am not the product. If you disagree say why.

In retrospect, I agree. I worded it too strongly out of emotion. "Everyone could be the product of a service, free or not" would be closer to what I think. The message being that if being a product is important to a would-be user, they should investigate in every case, because power dynamics play more of a role, than being free or not.