Yeah, RED guarantees access, but it’s also possible to gain access without it; it just takes longer. Sites like TorrentLeech can serve as valid proof for certain sites during applications, for example. Additionally, AlphaRatio also has some recruitment.
I recommend using H.265 and Opus for audio. In my opinion, encoding to H.264 in 2023 is not a wise choice. AV1 is a good option, especially with hardware encoding and compatible devices.