I never log in. I block all YT cookies. I use Enhancer for YouTube, Clickbait Remover for Youtube, and uBO. I never ever visit YT home page. I have a self-curated shortlist of channels that interest me enough to keep up with, via local bookmarks/notes.

No ads. No clickbait faces/emoji/etc. No distracting annotations/cards/referrals. No shorts. No auto play. The list goes on.

When used in this manner, YT is amazing. However, it is a bit of a shame that I have to go to these lengths just to make it bearable.

P.S. Yeah I know I’m a bit of a leech in this regard, but I do not agree with the business model that Google has chosen. And even still, I probably care about them more than they care about me.