If you strictly want the native app interface, you will need to jailbreak your device. While Google patched the simple .plist edits, the jailbreak community frequently updates tweaks to counter these server-side blocks. The Tools You Need: To access the root file system.
The final nail in the coffin was the integration of ads into the core video manifest. Old versions tried to request ads from deprecated ad servers. When those ad servers were shut down, the old client would freeze, buffer endlessly, or throw the "no connection" error. Google effectively patched the loophole by removing the servers the old versions relied on.