When I tried to get a google account via NOT a phone, it wanted from me SMS-confirmation, what means it is not possible as free.
BUT
important stuff is, I just found out if you got this google-account-thingy on youtube you can click on the place your avatar supposed to be, when a menu-bar appears there you'll be able to find a "switch account" button, with what
you can just
change back to your god old youtube-account, and can forget about the whole misery.
It does keep the new google-thingy, but you no longer have to remain frustrated
