I harp on endlessly until I'm blue in the face to anybody who is interested in listening about the fact that digital ad platforms are no friend of your business (including - in fact, particularly - those "specialists" from the ad platforms who bombard your phone and try to give you free, unsolicited advice. Remember, if you are being given something for free by a profit-seeking, commercial enterprise, then you are probably the product, so to speak).
However, the more uncomfortable and fundamental truth is that ultimately you (your business) is responsible for the losses that can be wrought by these platforms.
I recall a particular consulting call, where the client came to me basically saying 'we think Google should pay us back because one of our team members got on a call with the free support account specialist, implemented the changes suggested there and then on on the call, and now we've spent more for no additional leads' - these changes included upping the budget on certain campaigns, which - as harsh as it sounds - even the most beginner advertiser normally understands may entail additional expenditure.
At the end of the day, you don't have to implement the changes suggested there and then. You don't have to implement them at all. In fact, you don't need to pick up the phone (nor should you, I'd argue).
You don't need to accept the headline figures (such as that oh-so-impressive looking display ad impression and click count) without taking any steps to investigate further.
You don't need to accept the vast majority of in-platform suggestions/nudges to try certain features.
Just like in a boxing match, where the referee instructs each fighter to "protect yourself at all times", so to must you learn to protect yourself at all times from the oftentimes devious and underhanded tactics ad platforms will use to get you to part with your $$$.
