Can you be more precise? I used Plex as a free user for a while before getting a Pass, and I seemed to have full control over my media - I could watch it remotely, etc.
Performance wise it's also bad compared to the competition.
I don't pay them for hardware encoding but for other services that the alternatives suck at. Once you know you have to pay you don't really care what you have to pay for and what you don't.
There are downsides to Plex, but do realize you're conversing with people who've used multiple options. I try Jellyfin once or twice a year and it's objectively a worse experience each time.
And again, when I used the free version of Plex the viewing experience was perfect. I guess I just don't need hardware encoding?