[zephen]

> Billing statements disguised as marketing nudges is a cromulent business practice until the SaaS start sending bills to collections.

Well, I should have probably said that instead of sued. But the intent is the same.

> I think the author is being kind, both to themselves and startup practicing dark patterns.

It's unclear it's a dark pattern. The author explicitly states that this particular EULA doesn't allow them to bill without a credit card.

But it's also unclear that this practice will survive the exposure on hacker news.

No, not because it's a "dark pattern" but because it enables customer dark patterns. Run up a bill and then go use something else.