By 'mainstream', I mean that Vtubers like in Japan would be on the morning talk shows, be featured in advertisements on TV, have shows about V-Tubers on TV (there is a light novel with an anime adaptation called VTuber Legend: How I Went Viral After Forgetting to Turn Off My Stream), collaborations with V-Tubers and sports teams are a common occurrence, and while we have had some of these things in the West, it's not as pervasive as it is in Japan.
In my opinion with Western media being continually ass, it's only a matter of time.
Nope, the normies don't understand it, I mean they might have one or two appearances from someone really big, stranger things have happened because we saw Hasan Piker show up on Piers Morgan.
I think there's a definite bit of elitism and snootiness coming from journalists and television shows when it comes to anything online. They regard anyone like that as the unwashed basement dwelling neckbeards they mock constantly. It doesn't matter if they're a billionaire that makes more money than their entire company, it's a class thing. It's also worth nothing that these guys are their direct competition, why would they help out anyone online and give them more access to their audience?