The accounts streaming the album are still free accounts - therefore it counts as a free stream NOT a paid stream

I'll take your word for it. You clearly have done whatever research is possible on the subject.

haha you can too. make a new free spotify account and try it. you should be able to stream any album in order rather than shuffling through. also skip songs.

then check your account status, it is still a free account contributing the streams

Alright, that’s pretty cool of them then

end goal seems to be to get themselves additional users that will stay and pay