See my sibling. Yes it does.

There seem to be ways to make that go away (null listing hosts either directly in the hosts file or - on Windows - in the Internet Connection Settings). Maybe. Before I'd use that app for anything of value, outside of my Mondays .. I'd try these approaches.

I have never seen a single ad on Skype (Windows, Mac, iOS) when I use my old account, where I have regularly bought SkypeOut credits.

When I created a second account for work with a new client, suddenly ads popped up everywhere.

Not on Mac but it does on Windows.

That's not true at all. I have ads shoved in my face on my Mac continuously. It's bulky & ugly to use (UX-wise), so it's only used for business.

I make myself available on nth number of services because they people I want to talk to are spread across them; Skype is not one of them.

Mine does...