Final answer:
It is true that the colonists benefited from the restricted colonial trade. Despite restrictions like Britain's Navigation Acts, colonists prospered through advantages like fertile land for farming and later engaging in smuggling to bypass restrictions.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that despite the restricted colonial trade, the colonists did benefit in certain ways. The premise of the question is based on the historical context in which various restrictions were imposed on the colonial trade routes by European powers. These restrictions aimed to ensure that the colony's trade benefited the home country predominantly, often via mechanisms such as the Navigation Acts enacted by Britain in the 17th Century. Despite these restrictions, the colonists did benefit. For instance, captured and colonised lands offered fertile soil and favourable climate conditions for farming, which resulted in profit through trade for colonists. Moreover, over time, some colonists began to engage in smuggling to bypass the restrictions, which allowed for economic benefits as well.
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