Exactly this. I use NordVPN because all I want is to be able to watch BBC iPlayer now that I no longer live in the UK. I would happily pay the BBC the ~€2/month I pay NordVPN but that isn't an option the BBC offer sadly so I take the most convenient option. I don't trust NordVPN to 'protect me' as I don't need 'protection' so it isn't something I factor in to my decision to use them. All I care about is the service being reliable and so far they have been great. Every now and then the BBC figure out I am on a VPN and I have to reconnect using a different server. Such is the cat and mouse game of evading geoblocks.

I sure as fuck wouldn't trust NordVPN if I were some kind of activist though and was doing things that could get me in trouble with the law. They're a business and will comply with any local laws they are subject to just like ProtonMail are and did.

People acting all shocked that ProtonMail did what was legally required of them is dumb. If it was a legitimate request they can't say no. No user is going to be worth all the legal fallout. Sure they push back on unjust requests as we can see from their transparency report but if it is a legit request they will do as is asked.