I've been paying google for GDrive for some time now, and that's about to end. It's back to Dropbox. I know, I don't have to do this, but the hell with google. I'm done. This is nothing short of a needless f---over, and I want as little to do with them as possible.
It would be a little different if they did this to _everyone_ and completely removed the free @gmail plans. But instead they're targeting GSuite users when @gmail plans are _right there_, because they know they can get it.
Honestly, if it weren't for the alternatives setting somewhat of a market price, little could stop them from charging triple. The only comparable plan is the lowest tier of 4 tiers as it is, and I doubt it's gonna get _cheaper_ over time.
On "the cost of just paying up" side, also tally up the cost of dealing with whatever other shenanigans Google decides to pull later; knowing that you will be equally powerless and option-limited at that time too, and even more entrenched with them and hence with even more to lose at their whim.
The entire Google account will be suspended unless there's payment. I'd have to audit everything my Google accounts are used for, find alternatives, train users on the N new services, and deal with all the migrations. Which frankly is impractical. Some stuff is not easily migrate-able (YouTube subs/history, Android purchases, ...), and unless I don't need a Google account again ever, I'll probably end up migrating to an @gmail one at least partially.
But at least I keep the domain?? Which I'd then be paying a mail provider about the same amount for. Plus probably more for any other paid services.
To say nothing of convincing and migrating my family/other users.
If I could only keep the Google account going with my own mail/services that'd be something. They say I "may" retain access to YouTube and Photos, for now. And the account will be in a 'suspended' state that requires payment to get out of.
It's not exactly a surprise, and I know "that's what I get" for using Google services. But it's still scummy.
