If you’re using an ad-blocker or skipping ads, yes, they absolutely don’t give a shit if you stop using it, because you provide zero value to them and are only consuming their resources.
Your metadata is still extremely valuable to them, and it’s not limited to just watch history and likes, but rather everything on how you engage in their services, including where your mouse cursor sits.
If you block browser ads, they still make money off of you from mobile apps showing ads. If you use DNS-level blocking, they can still use your data to tailor ads for those around you.
But the value per person they get from " use your data to tailor ads for those around you" a tiny amount and the amount they get from selling your eyeball space directly to paying customers is (comparatively) vast, I could easily see it being 1000x greater or even more. Youtube is going to war on adblockers for a reason.