Crude isn’t RBOB. Converting crude oil (which went negative) into automobile gas (which didn’t) is a process that takes time/work, and not everyone has the infrastructure to do it. Crude also loses the ability to convert to RBOB in time, so if you buy and can’t convert or use it otherwise in time, it’s wasted money. Crude went negative but RBOB didn’t, and auto gas companies were making only their usual profit off of it at the time.

When I was 15 and learning to drive my dad lived in Atlanta. I went there for a visit once and he had me drive there, and everywhere for the whole week. My first experience driving on an interstate included going 90 around the perimeter full of other cars going faster than me and requiring getting from one onramp and moving over 4 lanes to get tot he next exit in half a mile. It was terrifying and I definitely cut waaayyy too many people off driving into town and I’m shocked I didn’t cause a wreck. That was always his teaching style, just throwing me into the deep end. It’s still burned into my brain as one of the most dangerous things I’ve done (And that’s a long list). But, when I had to go into my drivers ed class the following school year I was the only one who was at all comfortable on the interstate and one of the best drivers in the class.

I don’t recommend teaching things that way and I’d never do that with my children, but damn was it effective since I didn’t die. Not dying was probably a close call though.