“I am now convinced that providing incredibly CRAPPY support is a marketing ploy on the part of hotmail. See, they really want you to sign onto their PAID service so they treat users of the Free service like dirt.”
But it’s also true that if you do subscribe, you are now identified to them through your payment information. This automatically puts you in a better position if something does go wrong. You also have the leverage of being able to quit if not satisfied with the service.
A free account is worth every penny you paid for it.
I only had one email addressee on Hotmail that I really needed to contact and I finally was able to contact her via other means so no great loss now if hotmail is gone for good. Will try to access it tomorrow via another computer.