@Blender So y'all understand this was a wildly unpopular move and an unnecessary own-goal.

Good.

The question that remains to be addressed is this: What does Anthropic get out of this deal?

Corporations do not give away money without strings attached. That's not how business works. So if they're giving you money, as a Blender user and supporter, I would like to know what you are giving them in return. That will inform whether I and others will support you in the future.