Tips are definitely sneaking up on traditional youtube revenue. Right now I'd say in a GOOD month, my BTC tips are about as much as 10-20% of my regular YT pay (not including sponsors). That's actually pretty impressive now that I think about it - although YT ad revenue is dismal.

Honestly it's just a waiting game at this point. People will use it, they will see it removes gatekeepers, and they will love that. We haven't hit critical mass yet, but companies like Zebedee and Thunder games focusing on niche markets is probably a big piece of that puzzle.