@tldr
This is a good article.
I think the answer is "both": you have to be able to distribute your product and you have to have a product worth distributing.
For example, Roy of Cluely is doing a great job distributing. Their sense of product though... I'm skeptical that you magically get that right just bc you have attention and resources.
But also, good stuff will die on the vine without being able to capture requisite attention in a very busy world.