The tone is off but I think there is something to the point eecks makes.<p>Remember that famous &#x27;idlewords article[0]? I recall it making some circles around HN and the widely held conclusion was that free successful services are likely to disappear at a moment&#x27;s notice, while paid successful services are unlikely to do so. Of course it is not true - the reason why is obvious when you&#x27;ve lived in the same apartment for more than few years and noticed how often shops - small and big - open up, and then close down. No service is forever. Rare are those who last more than few years.<p>But even if it&#x27;s wrong, this argument about paid stuff having significantly longer lifespan was widely repeated, and was believed by many.<p>[0] - <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;blog.pinboard.in&#x2F;2011&#x2F;12&#x2F;don_t_be_a_free_user&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;blog.pinboard.in&#x2F;2011&#x2F;12&#x2F;don_t_be_a_free_user&#x2F;</a>