The cookie banners are a byproduct of companies still wanting to abuse your data, when was the last time you saw a cookie pop-up on HN? Logged in or not.
If only there were some way that European citizens could have told their browsers to not accept Cookies, then maybe we all wouldn't have to click on those banners all the damn time.
I see very little advantages from these privacy laws but I use and appreciate US businesses every day.