Turns out the long start times for youtube videos I was seeing was due to adblocking... The pause was simply a blocked ad.
Turning add block off allowed access to the skip timer that is on most videos and turned out to be better on youtube at least.
Ooooooooooooh
OKay, that makes sense
Down side is that YouTube also has huge animated header ads and other annoying things.
Might have to check my settings / look at a different blocker.
TBH I'm getting more and more fed up with YouTube, as a viewer and as a creator.
This new moderation system they are putting into effect is bonkers