For iOS users, Firefox Focus still seems unfazed by all of this. Sent a playlist to it from PocketTube today and I didn’t see an ad through several videos, with no delays.
You're only a customer if you pay them. If you don't, then you're the product, and they can't sell your eyeballs to advertisers if you block their ads.
When it comes to Google, even if you pay them you are still the product, YouTube Premium might stop the ads on YouTube but it doesn't stop the data collection for other Google products and partners.
Funny, they're actively making it worse any time I try to lower my shields too. They've changed, very recently, from a video hosting platform with ads, to an advertising platform with some minor videos in between.
Oh, do you want my viewing experience to be worse? Well don't worry, because I'm doing my best so PeerTube has quality content in a weekly basis, while you also have the same content in a monthly basis.
I haven't been to youtube.com or opened the app in ages. I switched to FreeTube and haven't looked back. That'll last until they restrict API access, anyway.