That’s one of the big values for me, the effortless smart device support. Sure I know tech shit and I block ads in every browser I use, but it’s nice when members of my family can just use the YouTube app, full featured, on whatever TV/phone/tablet they have access to at the moment. It’s not a matter of whether I can watch YouTube for free without seeing ads, it’s a question of whether the convenience and creator support are worth the cost of a drive thru meal per month. Add in YouTube music and I don’t even think about it any more.
It’s an ease of use thing, kind of like how Steam ended PC game piracy for many people.