charlieboi:
I trust your knowledge on this subject because you clearly have a lot of experience, but I saw this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeJTb0f67Vc, which shows a DC motor being controlled without a driver. Is this a viable option?
Not for any real use of a motor. If you have a very small motor with no load on it, i.e. the motor isn't driving anything just sitting in the open spinning its own spindle, then you may get away with it for a few seconds. But as soon as you put a gearbox and wheels on the motor or a real propeller the current will increase to a level that damages the Arduino.
It would be easy enough to test it but you need to realise that after you've done the test you'll almost certainly need a new Arduino.
Steve