How is that unfortunate? One of my favorite Youtube channels recently picked up a meal-prep-delivery-thing sponsorship, and they work it into the content well - it's obvious that they're jamming it into the program, but they manage to remain funny while doing it. Much better than rolling my eyes for 15 seconds during an unskippable pre-roll.
Because being obvious and funny about it is so rare that it's practically unique. What most advertisers want and pay for is "native advertising," i.e. ads masquerading as normal content. When native advertising is done "properly" you have no way of knowing if your favorite YouTuber actually likes the product or is just being paid to shill it. That's unfortunate as hell.
Of course you know. The answer is always "They are being paid to shill it." unless they have invested in cultivating a reputation of independents, like Consumer Reports.
The youtubers I respect (best content), have the format:
