You can't use DNS/hosts to block ads on sites like YouTube because they use the same domain to load ads and videos. To block the ads you have to block the video itself.
So while still useful, that's not really a replacement for browser extensions.
This comment reminds me of the crazy spammer who used to frequent Slashdot, always with a long comment about how to use hosts file and how it is superior to every other method of blocking content.
Adding blockers to the hosts table still works with Chrome... hope they don't muck with that...
https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts
But if they do... there are always DNS solutions you can add to your Router.
https://nextdns.io/
I use Firefox, but even things like Windows spams ads at you if you let it. So many things have Google trackers built in too...