I don't buy it.

Chrome for years and years was sold as lightning fast and secure from malware - and it delivered.

That was why I switched back in the day.

Even today, it has a reputation for being lightning fast, and having a fast pace of development.

In my (admittedly mostly/predominantly) technical circle - I don't know many who switched to ads. In fact, those people are the least likely to click on ads.

Most of them switched because Chrome is fast, and lightweight - or for the non-technical people, because their technical friends told them to.