I would watch ads if the friction they caused were lower than the friction of maintaining an ad blocker and random sites that break every so often. I suspect t

I would watch ads if the friction they caused were lower than the friction of maintaining an ad blocker and random sites that break every so often. I suspect that is the same for the vast majority of people. Just like with music back in the day: people accept a minor nuisance (either ads or a small monetary cost) if they feel they get a good deal (a smooth experience and reliable content).