Are ETF fees really "tax-deductible?"

ETF fees are paid pre-tax, while taxable managed account fees are paid post-tax, and are not deductible thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (set to expire EOY 2025)

Cartoon contrasting ETF fees paid pre-tax against non-deductible post-tax separate account fees under the TCJA
Lucas, S. E. (2020). The Taxable Investor's Manifesto.