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I don't agree that having a comfortable free tier inhibits upward movement in the subscription structure of a service. I've started all the services I pay from their free tiers. Most notable examples are Evernote, Trello, Dropbox and Pocket. As I continued using these tools, I've overgrown them, and the features they offer on subscription tiers started to make sense. As a result, I've directly bought the highest tier of service which both makes sense and I can afford. Feedly is different in that regard. They provide a free service, nag me, insert ads into the stream, all at the same time. Turn down nagging, keep the ads, that's OK. Add a time trial, don't sell ads, that's OK too. But they bombard you, and it comes down to "pay us or go away", and I went away. Not in a decade, but in a week. I'm a fan of "small web". Simple services which do one thing, and do it well. Simplymail, Source Hut, Mataroa, Smol.pub, etc. They're also paid services, and I also pay for some of them. It's a simple transaction. $X for a year, no tracking, no funny data business, for these services. This is beyond elegant. I found out that I have got enough of the modern web, with sites overloading my senses and doing all kinds of funny business with my information even if I pay them. Feedly is a business, they want to earn money and provide services, that's fair. They can operate the way they want, and I'm not entitled to tell them how to operate, or force them. On the other hand, they're not entitled to my money or continued patronage because I opened an account on their service and gave a test drive. |