To be fair, Tesla has had issues with people using Youtube channels to publicize their referral codes and collecting hundreds of referrals. There have been multiple times when they have discussed this and Elon has even said the intent was for the referral code to be something you could give a friend or someone you spoke to about Tesla as a "good deal". The Youtube referrals were never like that. Yes they publicized Tesla, but you had a few youtubers getting ludicrous amounts of referral prizes.
Personally, I'd like to see the referral program limited in some way to prevent that (say no more than 10 referrals per year or something). It allows Tesla to limit the pain/cost of referral prizes and yet still allows that Tesla owner who advocates to a friend/colleague to buy a Tesla to get a little something for it (which was always the point of the program).
Rich is a good guy and I support his efforts, but he has also gotten a LOT out of Tesla in the relationship as well. He's not a victim being trod on for having a youtube channel.