.dev is only prohibitively expensive during the pre-sale. After Feb 28, there will be no extra charge ($0 one-time fee).
Hence, right now kjaegrlkjnfvaf.dev is "$11,500 + $12/year" [0] while hn.dev is "$11,500 + $720/year" [1]
So alex.dev and aj.dev will cost $720/year forever, tim.dev, james.dev and emma.dev are $360/year, tony.dev and grace.dev are $180/year, olivia.dev and harry.dev are $98/year, yusef.dev, oscar.dev and sanjay.dev are $12/year.
Maybe not "prohibitive" but a big premium for the Alexes among us!
[0] https://domains.google.com/m/registrar/search?searchTerm=kja... [1] https://domains.google.com/m/registrar/search?searchTerm=hn....
I mean with these sort of pricing, are Startup suppose to be creative with their name or else they are forced to pay thousands to Google every year.
To save some clicks (in addition to the $12/year):
Feb 19: $11.5k
Feb 20: $3.5k
Feb 21: $1150
Feb 22-24: $350
Feb 25-27: $125
After the 27th you only have to pay the normal $12/year rate.