Why would the author think tracking/analytics is "totally unrelated to online privacy issues"? Baffling
As a publisher, if you want to be profitable, you have to load a bunch of crap from Google, Criteo and others. And, I feel the quality of the JS loaded are slowly degrading. That's shameful point. Advertising networks should buy the best JS talents and release top quality JS. Until then, people should use Ad blockers.
Anecdotal evidence is myself who recently removed Adsense and only direct sells ads. Positives of direct selling is that I get 100% of the sale and I have better control over the ads on my site (static image graphics, no popovers or interstitials). The former makes me happy, the latter improves the experience for my readers.
That said, I do use ad blockers from time-to-time myself because some sites have gotten so ridiculous they are absolutely unusable - I'm talking to you Epicurious and Bon Appetit!
There is no way to scale running your own internal ad network unless you have scores of folks to manage the marketing of your property, the managemnet of your ads, contracts, receipt of payment etc.