Some unknown but presumably large number of regular visitors were given free digital ‘scrips for the first year, followed by a 99c option for another 6 weeks before falling into the full-scrip trap. This amnesty program ends in about a week. I predict thousands of people will drop the NYT and not look back — this poster being one.

The price is ridiculous when put up against arguably better information on good news sites that is available for free. Bring the price down, or bundle it with, say, the Financial Times, the Economist, or some other worthy source. It’s the height of narcissism to expect such hefty payment for the 75% fluff that is the NYT.

And the post by VoltairesGripe is interesting. You know, when I was in my teens and 20′s and not making much money I was concerned with hacking into things and getting them for nothing. Now that I’m older I’m MORE likely to subscribe to something I find valuable. And the only way I find it valuable is to sample it for a long time. So, unlike you, I subscribe because it’s worth it to me not to have to fiddle with my browser and have unrestricted access. You’re perpetuating the myth that these data refutes. It’s the same one that causes the music and recording industry to cling tightly to stupid copy protection instead of embracing the new digital world.

If you wish to read another twenty, simply close your browser, open it again, and repeat.

That said, my current NYT relationship is the same as colburn’s: don’t use the site, and only access articles from Twitter/FB links. (Strangely, despite the claims about how the paywall runs, this still gets notices about running low/out of the “20 free” articles per month.)

It’s important I think for my 2 little kids to see a newspaper. If I’m on the computer or my ipad, for all the kids know I’m playing Angry Birds. Watching my father and sitting at the kitchen table with him with the paper (or 2 or 3) spread all around is how I became interested in the newspaper.