Not having API-s for models would suck terribly. It would kill tools like Aider or Cline, where I can switch models as I prefer, paying only for tokens I have used. The only option would be to purchase overpriced application from a model provider.

I hope the author is wrong and still there will be someone who would like to make money on "selling tokens" not end-to-end closed solutions. But indeed, market surely would seek for added value.