YouTube has a paid option and even here on HN, the mecca of anti-ad sentiment, people openly admit to using ad blockers there instead even though that means the creators they're watching do not get paid.
Hint: People are cheap. They want free stuff, not paid alternatives.
I agree it's challenging, but that doesn't stop me wishing for a world where stalking everybody on the planet, publishing outrage-bait, and spreading conspiracy theories is not a massively profitable business.