Ethan isn't smart, but his problems do not come from stupidity, they come from his inability to restrain himself and refusal to learn from his mistakes. He's an impulsive wigger, and like other lowlife scum in his mind exists a degenerated sense of honour where he cannot let something pass, no matter how petty, even if it is in his best interest to do so.
This is essentially his mindset, observe:
"Can't abort the retort" is emblematic of this attitude, the fact he continues to scrape pennies for putting out a livestream seems like a win to him, when even his alawgs don't give a fuck.