A few reasons I pay is we watch YouTube on your living room TV and while there are ways to block ads it is easier to just not have to worry about. Second we want to support the channels we do watch and if we can do that without ads all the better. Third it comes with YouTube music (while not the best it works fine for us)
I hate these head lines. It is too early to know if this has an actual impact of subs. Since some might still have a free trial and might cancel after or after a few months of paying.