Hope you all have a good celebration Steve and SB. Well deserved.
The difference is that, when you are with United, you get all of your games watched by people all around the world even when you miss UCL, every game they play in EPL and FA will be watched for sure. However, when you do a club like Everton, sure if they play liverpool or city or united or chelsea or whatever there will be people watching, but a game between United and Norwich got some views, a game between Everton and Norwich probably didn't.
So, the "risk" you are taking by missing out UCL would still be worth it, because even though it is the same premier league for both clubs, one of them still gets a ton more visits compared to the other.
I'm talking about new fans. You'd think the same about Liverpool, big club, big history etc. but you come to a smaller corner of the world and kids will watch the clubs during the finals, the ones lifting the trophies etc.
I remember pre-Abramovich, you'd find a couple of older guys supporting Chelsea cause of Zola. Pre-Pep City, there was no such thing as sky blue.
But in that period, more and more Chelski/Citeh shirts came to games (whenever screened) and it got to a point, if you were a Liverpool fan, you'd not find a single place screening the game because well, we weren't in any big European game. Not challenging for the title.
Trust me, if you're Everton and regularly in UCL, while United continues to be absent, United get less revenue, can't afford big stars, and after a while, you'll see more kids support the Toffees. It's just the way it works outside of England/Europe.
Saw it happen to Liverpool so it's not even something to theorise. 10 years in the wilderness, before Klopp came, now suddenly massive new youthful fanbase from Africa and Asia, especially cause of Salah/Mane, but 100% because we've been in Champions League beamed out to the most eyes.