micropayments are hard, not bc of the tech but bc of the ux and economics

stated preference of subs is negative, but revealed is the "long term" relationship they represent are quite valuable [to each party]

same reason deal-by-deal investing platforms sound great but ~don't work / transform into funds

I used to work in journalism, and there was a lot of discussion of micropayments in the mid-2010s. ultimately doesn't work that well, as described above. for example:

I used to work in journalism, and there was a lot of discussion of micropayments in the mid-2010s. ultimately doesn't work that well, as described above. for example: https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/blendle-shuts-down-micropayment-model-due-to-very-limited-user-base-/s2/a1058771/

Stratechery has touched on this a bunch of times over the years but I don't have a good all-in-one link

one clue is that micropayments have never been technically unfeasible, as you noted, even with credit card fees — users can establish a balance in one transaction, then spend down credits incrementally. so why isn't this model popular anywhere?

another is that mobile games, which actually *do* thrive with microtransactions because they're a hook for whales, charge a minimum of $0.99 for unlocking anything, which is actually not super micro when we're talking digital goods. (granted credit card fees probably do have an effect there)

@sonyasupposedly might have some other long form to point you toward

hm.. about the economics of subscriptions? I am not sure tbh