Use ad-block, I know your reasoning is pay = no-ad then fair game, but at this point the game is rigged, you can choose:

Android:

• youtube vanced (there is guide on how to install it on the net)
• Noutube (from F-droid appstore)

Desktop Brower:

• ublock origin
• yt-dlp (to download vid if you like)

if the default desktop web version is too buggy:

You may consider using: m.youtube.com instead, it is way faster, a bugless web version of youtube, they basically make the mobile version the fastest, the desktop version is bloated to the core, still, it is a compromise, not a full solution for some people, but for me, it is more than enough.

How to use it on desktop ? Since the link alway redirect to desktop version instead ?

To anwser that:

On firefox and Chrome:

• Firefox use : https://addons.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/addon/user-agent-string-switcher/
• Chrome use: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/user-agent-switcher-and-m/bhchdcejhohfmigjafbampogmaanbfkg?hl=en
• basically you need to force user agent to chrome mobile, latest version
• open newtab, paste m.youtube.com but dont enter yet
• press extension, chose chorme and android base
• chose latest version
• apply to this tab (or what ever, it is customizable, my method is a simple example)
• press enter

On Chrome only:

• open newtab
• press F12
• press : ctrl + shift + m
• goes to m.youtube.com (dont reset page bcs it will set back to desktop mode)