Well, I have personally had luck with this. It took a very long time after the initial laws on digital content for refunds to become widely available but it happened. I am doing my part, I do not share your cynicism here. To me it appears to be working effectively.

The saying is, the wheels of justice turn slowly but they grind finely.

Directive 2019/770 is still young and game companies haven't had much opportunity to interact with irate customers demanding remedy under this directive and its national transpositions yet. They still use the old terminology to clarify their sale as a "service" despite the new act defining what a service is and making that definition inalienable. As more and more people assert their rights, new norms will develop. More and more companies may be forced to register as gatekeepers under the digital markets act as well.