We're far enough in for the shut-in nerdy outcasts who make up a big portion of vtuber talent pool to have become comfortable with and dependant on their new social circle of names on the screen who show up to talk to them every day.
It's easy to be cynical about this kind of thing and there obviously are GFE streamers who pander for views and donations, but I think a lot of parasocial dynamics are genuine, for better or worse.