I lean toward agreeing with you. Sure. I'd rather view ads than pay. BUT! Why I'm setting up a pi-hole isn't about ads in and of themselves. It's the intrusive and misleading ads. It's the tracking and difficulty opting out of targeted advertising.

I don't have a problem with tv ads for shampoo that I won't ever buy. I do have a problem with a web page that surrounds a legit news article with bizarre ads with cockimamy health claims, and links that don't go where they claim to go.

If a website says, "Pay up or look at these 'spider veins' ads" that's entitlement, arrogance and open contempt. That's not treating me like a desired customer.