Unless things changed in the past year or so, i remember creating a google account without a phone number.However you might be right, because they recently stated they want to start forcing people info 2FA.What is more interesting(especially for people who don't understand how google operates behind the scenes) is that the markers they use for requiring phone numbers/id verification/etc is to train their bot detection.I remember about 2 years ago,on a 10yrs+ old google account, I had recently been required to verify my age(through an ID) for a video which did not require my age verification on a dummy account which was about 2 years old(so very new by comparison).

They might have introduced now mandatory age verification on per-video instead of per-account basis, but the stages they use are very questionable.Besides, YT is such an unusable platform these days one has to use NP/Vanced to have the same experience of youtube pre-2012, and still: back then there was less spam and phishing going on.