I'm not sure I agree

1) Back then, even as a free user you'd be able to use the strongest model (even if with tight limits). Now, you need to pay to use Sol, and you need to pay to use Opus or Fable. It does seem fairly premium in that sense. Idk about 5.6 Luna, but the previous Instant was really bad, even for very casual users. It would hallucinate non stop.

2) When $100 and $200 per month plans launched, they were received as outrageous even here. Nowadays they are pretty common among power users.