[xstreaminsanity]

The charge isn't for the ability to search the database, the knowledge is and always will be free because you can get some checklists from the manufacturer itself. The charge is for the amount of money spent on the developers to create and maintain a software product (that is very in depth) for users to keep their collections organize, propose cards for trade, mark what they want, keep an inventory, determine collection value without having to go through a magazine or write it down or go one by one, etc. That's what they've started charging $20 a year for. The software is very very difficult to write and to maintain, and to update. And developers do not create something so elaborate for free. Believe me, I work on something very similar in nature (millions of users) and it would take more than 3500 subscribers at $20 a year to cover my salary.