I'm not proposing anything, just noting that Youtube ads are not providing a relevant direct incentive to a lot of creators. Obviously "keeping Youtube running" also matters to anyone using the platform as a part of making a living, but at least personally I feel like that is a different problem that needs to be approached from other angles.

Some amount of reinvention seems necessary, the cost model of video hosting (without just making it a public service) changes the maths a fair bit.