The main reason they get paid is that their income is primarily from sponsorships and affiliate links now. Youtube premium doesn't block that, and it's a much more insidious kind of ad.

It makes you think you're watching somebody being authentic, when really it's a business disguising itself as an authentic person that's trying to sell you things (whether out of bias or strategy)

I usually stick with known quantities and avoid any scummy looking channel.

I have no problem watching the in video Gamer Nexus ads and don't expect paying for YouTube premium to skip those ads.

Creators get paid MORE per stream by a premium user than an ad free user.