In another HN thread, someone said that the playback speed for the ads is the same as for the videos. This makes it seem like an easy workaround (for now) is to

In another HN thread, someone said that the playback speed for the ads is the same as for the videos. This makes it seem like an easy workaround (for now) is to use an extension that allows arbitrarily fast playback. When an ad appears, hit the 'increase speed' button half a dozen times, and it'll be over in a few seconds. Of course, this may end up being a game of cat and mouse, but it might be uncommon enough for YT to never end up blocking it.