Is there any development into an open and free video sharing site similar to what YT used to be? Something where the users of the site are actually the customers and are treated as such?

There is plenty of content I'd subscribe to see on YouTube.

If there is, it's something we should promote. If there isn't, we should build it.

A note to Google: when users are looking to get away from your otherwise incredibly successful services, it might indicate there's a very serious problem that should be corrected immediately. People want alternatives to Search, Mail, and now YouTube based on your policies and how you mistreat and ignore users. Perhaps something needs to change before this evil spreads to everything Google owns.