pretty hard to click through the cookie consent form because the browser hijacks the mouse and doesnt let it move to the right place. ended up using tab to click through it.

And the cookie consent form is one of those that require you to click a gazillion toggles. Hasn't it been established now that opt-out must be no harder than opt-in?

the law unambiguously says that, yes. However, companies these days seem to respond to enforcement, not the text of the law. They are all using the same few cookie banner libraries/providers, so that they have herd protection (if the eu wants to crack down on it, it has to do it to hundreds/thousands of companies simultaneously). It seems neal chose that route also.