You're literally just handwaving all the issues. Which is completely fine, as long as you stop pretending there's some actually reasonable science behind this fantasy-machine.
There is, and...
Saying "volumetric displays and forcefields" doesn't make it rational
I provided you with an actual photograph with a quote that's clearly showing that holographic food isn't real,
No you didn't. You showed a photograph of Quark complaining about giving away free stuff. Other sources from Star Trek episodes themselves have verbally explained the holodeck replicates.
I'm still going to ask where you're getting "all the food is real" from?
First episode of TNG describes the holodeck replicating things for authenticity, specifically when Riker got his suit wet for real with water from the holodeck.
There have been multiple instances of this after the very first episode too.
Yeah, a bad copy that's not affecting all of your senses as has lots of limitations?
Maybe because it's older technology than a holodeck? You do understand how the progress of technology usually involves the solving of problems and limitations, right?
The emphasis of this scene is that the food is for free. Not that the holodeck can't replicate food.
However, there are other issues here. Firstly, it's not a federation holodeck. Secondly, for some reason they're not called holodecks either, but holosuites. This isn't a direct comparison.
I mean... If you're wearing a VR headset and move via treadmill... Then you're pretty much halfway towards what holodeck does already. So now imagine it's a few centuries into the future.
That's because a holodeck isn't merely a projection on the walls. It's been described a few times as a complex array of volumetric displays, forcefields, and replicated materials that shift around the individuals participating in the holodeck.
Basically, the way it's described, the illusion shouldn't work from your perspective as viewers/audience.
To the same effect, I'm bothered with how everyone in the new Odyssey movie looks way too pasty white for Mediterranean mariners. Was it really necessary to cast big names for the movie? Couldn't they find anyone that fit those parts better?
Hells, I had a lengthy discussion with an enthusiast for that time period and he went livid when we started talking about the costume design...
An independent power system doesn't mean the holodeck doesn't still use power. It wasn't until much later in the series that Jeanway started considering a more regular use for the holodeck as a common recreational area. Before that everything had to be rationed quite strictly. So... No... Not they couldn't just replace replicator rations with replicated holodeck food because the same problem exists with both.
In short; the holodeck doesn't "magic" its own power into existence.
Thw holodeck room can easily accommodate a whole lot of people. It's pretty large. Perhaps not the entire ship's crew, but I can't remember an episode where literally EVERYONE on the ship was stuck on the holodeck. If you consider that it's not actually necessary for attendants to physically move around (they can walk in-place) you are only really left with the creation of the illusion and the logistics it have tightly localised illusions happening around each individual.
It would've been an interesting problem to explore in an episode; the performance of the illusion with the holodeck full of people vs the holodeck having to just accomodate two or three individuals. It's just one of those things that Star Trek never did, and considering the types of stories NuTrek prefers to tell, never will.
Cool. Now show me the dead Charlie Kirk reaction.