I’ve often thought about the Spears situation. Did her family do that because she is but a “cash cow” upon which they all depend for sustenance? Or was it done because of a father’s love for his daughter?
My take? The answer to both your questions is “YES!!”
Yes, she’s the goose that lays the golden eggs (as with Miley Cyrus)
Yes, they kinda like her as well.
It was her father and he did a very good job. If it were her mother, who pushed her and her sister into show business, I would say it was all about protecting her “investment”.