I pay also, and use revanced. I watch YouTube more than any other service, and want to support some of the creators I like.
I would feel a lot less self hatred for paying google if they released a YouTube 'Lite' app that dropped everything related to shorts. Paying users should be able to use the app however they want, without having extra features rammed down their throats.
I was feeling bad for his ex right up until this gem:
”Then he took me to a bookstore and handed me his credit card. "Buy as many books as you want," he said. No man could have said anything sweeter.”