The bet being made, I think, is that when Patreon is doing several times current revenue, Google will want the paying users and their credit card numbers and will be happy to pay for them by acquiring Patreon.
Even though Google could recreate the whole Patreon system, they'd be forced to start with a customer base of zero and risk pissing off Patreon's customers and creators by trying to get in between them.
Also, as others have pointed out, Patreon is not just Youtube. Google tried to clone a product and a network before, with Google+, so they know how difficult that can be.
Even though Google could recreate the whole Patreon system, they'd be forced to start with a customer base of zero and risk pissing off Patreon's customers and creators by trying to get in between them.
Also, as others have pointed out, Patreon is not just Youtube. Google tried to clone a product and a network before, with Google+, so they know how difficult that can be.