You state that you have a plex pass and are a server owner. In that case you shouldn’t be affected, yet you’re saying you are… what?
Plex
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Just because I'm not affected doesn't mean it's not enshittification, and removing functionality that was free for over a decade.
Oh yea but I mean this change isn’t recent (well, it is but it was announced some time ago), so I focused on the part where you said that even plex pass didn’t work
I’m focusing on your edit
the people giving their bandwidth away for free now want money to pay their bills?
To clarify, I disagree with needing an account (sharing my email) with Plex in the first place, and personally would not purchase what is essentially a CDN or VPN depending on how plex distributes your content to your end users. However, from these comments it seems like this was a free service they offered and now want money for it, because it is not profitable. Enshittification? Sure, but not unexpected. Apparently this doesn’t affect you if you stream locally either.
This does complicate things though since now users have to consider paying a subscription for network security or begin distributing OpenVPN configurations to people. In some cases it won’t be possible, like on your TV.
I’ll share my secret: configure your VPN so only select traffic is sent down it and if you’re on iOS, AirPlay it to the television if it supports it. Or you can connect a raspberry pi up to it.
That's essentially my point of view. Plex enshittified. I was angry at how they handled the enshittification, throwing my users into a flurry, but I'm also not surprised that they're doing it.
In case people aren't clear on what's happening, here is a graphic that illustrates what's happening.
I have never used plex, and never will because I like my privacy, but that 20 usd a year does not sound much. thats less than 2 usd a month
I bought a lifetime plex pass for like $80 in 2016… is Plex getting more annoying? Yes. But is this a huge affront? No.
People are angry because everyone's spent too much time on social media and are used to assuming the worst and flying off the handle.