there’s no reason for using a VPN as the VPN provider will see the exact same thing as your ISP.

That statement feels intentionally misleading. The ISPs and VPNs product alignments/value propositions are very different, as well as the jurisdictions they operate under. For example here in Australia we have extremely fucked privacy laws, ISPs have to store your history for a minimum of 7 years and must comply with any warrentless government data request within a day if they want to so much as exist. The service they provide is internet, zero privacy. A VPN based in Sweden with none of my personal info being paid specifically to protect my privacy is providing a different service.