The UK did not object to the GDPR. The cookie banners are not a consequence of the GDPR, they are a consequence of companies using personal information without the users knowledge. The banners are not required at all, as long as you don't keep or used personal data other than for limited allowed technical/security reasons and you have a page somewhere on your site explaining that. There's certainly no need to ask permission from users to do things.
In fact, many of the banners are just illegal, much like shrink wrap agreements. You are not allowed to process data without affirmative agreement. There's no implied agreement possible.
This site is purely American and doesn't have to care what the EU thinks. It's also subsidized by a VC firm and doesn't have to directly make money. Not a good example.
