It was just a simple misunderstanding, jeez. I could have sworn last time I looked in like 2022 it was root only, but looking at archives I was wrong. Didn't think it was that important to update my post because like, the next post down someone...
if anyone wants more options across different devices:
Android - newpipe, revanced (I think you need to be rooted) I've been corrected by four people...
windows/Linux - freetube is stand-alone
ios - brave browser
android Tv (ie nvidia shield) -...
Scrolling through these pics/discussions makes me wish I didn't sell my first flashcart (cyclods) and didn't give away various other ones over the years, or made an effort to find ones that got lost somehow. I had a dstwo, but who the hell knows...