> as that'd do nothing but generate negative PR.

Don't you think we're far past the era where this was a reason not to do something? The "break stuff, 4d chess enthusiasts will explain why later" mentality seems to have permeated product design.

Thinking of the loss of the headphone jack (objectively proven to have nothing to do with space-saving), the continuous killing of Google features, the rise of paid 'verification', the to-and-fro wins and loses in right to repair, looming loss of the ability to 'block' on Twitter (most Twitter updates post-Musk) - anti-features feel like a thing to be rationalised and waived off in 2023.

> break stuff, 4d chess enthusiasts will explain why later

I am totally stealing this to explain every instance of product crapware I can find on the internet.

The whole adblock vs adblock detection thing is an arms race. If there's a risk of your account being flagged for using adblock, fewer people would risk it for fear of YouTube updating their detection and catching them.

I don't think it's a good business decision, but there's an angle.

Another cat and mouse game. I got the same message the other day. I noted it, but also ignored it.

It is possible adblockers officially became mainstream. Part of me ia happy about it. Part of me is concerned companies will respond in the worst possible way.