>I know that there definitely is a set of artists who explicitly don't use it, who are more concerned with accurately expressing their creative intent and musical virtuosity than they are with gaining popularity and mass appeal
I think you are forgetting that the autotune IS their creative intent. T-Pain is probably the most famous heavy autotune user of all time, despite having an amazing voice without it. It's an intentional effect - like how electric guitars aren't "worse" because you aren't hearing the raw sound of the string.
I know T-Pain is an incredible singer. I know artists use it as an intentional effect. I don't think I'm forgetting anything though, I'm not sure of what your argument is here.
I think you are forgetting that the autotune IS their creative intent. T-Pain is probably the most famous heavy autotune user of all time, despite having an amazing voice without it. It's an intentional effect - like how electric guitars aren't "worse" because you aren't hearing the raw sound of the string.