Which is a distinction I don&#x27;t think really matters.  They have an agreement, and firebase provides the API, but that agreement could become strained or need to be renegotiated if there&#x27;s a feeling that the HN API is taking more resources than it&#x27;s worth, or if HN pays directly for usage, then we&#x27;re back at it affecting HN again.<p>Ultimately, the bits we consume aren&#x27;t free.  <i>Someone</i> pays for them, it just commonly not the consumer in the current model.  At the point where you make the person that <i>is</i> paying for them feel it, then the person who pays might end up shifting to you.  Or the resource goes away, and everyone loses.<p>I&#x27;m not saying that&#x27;s likely in this case, but even if it isn&#x27;t likely, doesn&#x27;t mean we shouldn&#x27;t think about it.