An example, for what it’s worth: Quantum journal is relatively new physics arXiv-overlay journal (10 years old) that runs on volunteers effort and modest publication fees (~$700). They didn’t want the fees to be a barrier to submitting, so they have a very easy process for getting the fees waived; you basically just have to ask. My understanding is that they still have not been overrun with slop, and whenever I am asked to review the papers are reasonable quality. So it does not seem they are foisting the slop handling onto reviewers. Desk-rejection by the editors appears to be enough.
An example, for what it’s worth: Quantum journal is relatively new physics arXiv-overlay journal (10 years old) that runs on volunteers effort and modest publication fees (~$700). They didn’t want the fees to be a barrier to submitting, so they have a very easy process for getting the fees waived; you basically just have to ask. My understanding is that they still have not been overrun with slop, and whenever I am asked to review the papers are reasonable quality. So it does not seem they are foisting the slop handling onto reviewers. Desk-rejection by the editors appears to be enough.