I've found searching in an app like NewPipe to be loads better than searching on anything YouTube can create a fingerprint for (browser, in YT app). I get a lot of very helpful, low view count videos in DIY, programming, and research of old tech things.

Search has always worked for me, but I mean the experience of going onto YouTube and then deciding what I want to watch. Instead of seeing a bunch of random stuff I don't care about I can just go directly to my subscription page without any noise.