“How about the output, the product created.”

If your point is that the output is separate from the process, I totally disagree and can not find anything to support that idea.

“Obviously the process is completely different, but if the output is the same....”
No, the appearance is similar, but they are NOT the same. One was a moment in time, the other never existed. That matters.

“… and the public cannot distinguish them.”

So we trick them and treat them as gullible stooges? Yeah, partner, you go ahead with that. Imma bowing out.

“But when an illustration is 100% identical-looking to a photo, and a photo is hard to make and full of limitations and an illustration is easy (well, easier), why would you do a photo unless you wanted it hard, you wanted it limited, and you just wanted to do a photo for the sheer coolness of it? That's great for you -- but i promise you no client is going to say, "oh yes, spend more money on that and don't give me precisely what i need for this image." “

It was at this point I understood I wasn’t talking to someone who understands value, markets, scarcity, or even has a love of art. To you it’s just a thing.

Keith Jarret improvising for 2 hours is the same as a random mix tape of automobiles: “It’s just sounds, man.”

Why would anyone pay money to go to a stadium to watch a band play if they can just type in “make music that sounds like Xxxxx”.

In fact, do you think anyone would go to pay money to listen to a an ai play something that ‘sounds like” the artist formerly known as Prince? Why? They could do the same prompt and stay home. It ‘sounds’ like Prince, so just as good.

I 100% reject your premise.