is there a way to experience peertube that comes even close to youtube? i took a look at some instances and they're always like here's a page that looks like it was made in 1993 and only had videos of one dude.
As much as I want something like that to happen I don't see it happening for video platforms. Since most people wouldn't switch platforms from YouTube since the creators they like are on YouTube and those creators won't switch platforms cause they won't be able to make a living on another platform unless it's another big one like TikTok. The only alternatives to YouTube that have really worked are more niche subscription platforms like Nebula and Floatplane. Which only work as an additional platform to YouTube as a way to get some extra stable income that isn't ad dependent.
The most realistic solution is probably eventually breaking up Youtube on grounds it's a monopoly. The political will doesn't exist atm, but that would solve the problem of YT having no competitors and would mean competitors would come with infrastructure already.