As someone who actually played PoE, I can say that the exact opposite take of streamers was more popular. They have vastly more game knowledge and time to play vs the "average" gamer. "1% balance" is a recurring complaint because streamers play so efficiently that they make everything look easier and more broken than it is.

Only the most brutal, systemic nerfs (e.g. Harvest) can seriously hurt someone playing 40+hours/week - and that hurts regular players with less time/knowledge far more. On top of this, many of them are known for a pro-GGG/conservative stance. It's understandable both because GGG is kind of an indirect employer (e.g. see Empyrean bans) and they can overcome most issues, but not endearing to those caught in the crossfire.