Uto also had a shitload of antis back then - as well as the metadata/leeching stuff, there was also a theory that she was being backed by a Chinese company (I never saw any real evidence regarding that, but 5ch seemed pretty convinced). I think distancing herself from Hololive was the only way she could move away from that drama, and like you said it turned out to be better for her personal growth regardless.
Most of the old content is from her past life, Aizawa (part of a group called Bourbon/Vabon until May 2020,
original channel). She reincarnated as Uto sometime in September, reusing the same channel and purging old vids. IIRC she was let go for hiring an editor without permission, and also because of some retarded drama between her & another group member.
Check out videos analysis reports of Uto Ch. 天使うと Youtube channel.
playboard.co
I did find one of her old covers on YT: