It's a basic monopoly move. Why is Google making it's search function shitty? Because it's a monopoly and you won't go to a competitor. Reddit assumes that it can make these moves because it doesn't have a competitor, and if it did, it could buy out the competitor right now.
In economic aid packages like this, the goal is to spread money around in hopes people will spend it. Drop the cash from a helicopter, give it to random citizens, it doesn't actually matter so long as the money goes out the door.