WB. didn't really take a chance since they already had success with a dark and grim joker and their DCEU has been a mess overall. Also Black Panther was a risk. No one believed that a black cast blockbuster would ever smash that hard.
yeah some of these people are delusional in thinking its a win for "artistic cinema underdogs". its still an IP. the situation for original mid-budget films is still as bad!