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The creators I watch aren't making their income from YouTube, even when that is their only main platform. Patreon and video sponsorships through direct deals/ad networks are the bulk of it, in a lot of cases.

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So now, you're proposing the PBS model of broadcasting vs advertising supported broadcasting.

It's amusing to me how we keep reinventing existing models but consider them a totally new thing because "on a computer" kind of thing.

I watch my YouTube videos on patreon, ad-free. The creators are making more off me, too.

great, so you just provided evidence that YT isn't so critical as you've found the same content elsewhere

Technically patreon uses embedded YouTube vids, but your point stands. YT isn't so critical.

I'm not proposing anything, just noting that Youtube ads are not providing a relevant direct incentive to a lot of creators. Obviously "keeping Youtube running" also matters to anyone using the platform as a part of making a living, but at least personally I feel like that is a different problem that needs to be approached from other angles.

Some amount of reinvention seems necessary, the cost model of video hosting (without just making it a public service) changes the maths a fair bit.

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