Exporting an XML file from a database of already existing emails is very likely a query that takes milliseconds to run automatically.
If it's true they require you pay to export emails it sounds like borderline extortion.
If it's true they require you pay to export emails it sounds like borderline extortion.
In your example, you have the choice not to buy the license. In the case of Protonmail, they already have your emails, and are already serving them to you, so holding your correspondence hostage if you want to export it all in one go is a bit of a dick move.