On the plus side, the virtue signalers saved $ and can spend it on something that'll bring them more joy and is hopefully more aligned with their views. And gives them practice and a mindset of "I'm the kind of person willing to boycott" for any other boycotts that might have a real effect someday.
…I have thought about it and it is interesting that "virtue signal" is such a dirty word now. When I say "please" and "thank you" I'm essentially just virtue signaling that I'm willing to play nice, but nobody calls me the bad word for that. Although I understand that the current use of "virtue signal" is more about people you find to be sanctimonious and obnoxious online who you personally don't think actually bother with real activism, just online keyboard warrior-ing, and not about any type of "hi, I am not horrible to interact with" social signaling ever.