Maybe. I still have to decide at the point of download whether I want to pay, albeit a small amount, for the article in question. I don't say it can't work. For a long time, it's how we paid for telephone service. And it works for music/movies, although those goods each have their own unique characteristics--even if subscriptions are becoming more popular. (Music you reuse; the movie watching experience is something of a commitment.)

Of course, subscriptions have their own issues especially if the content sources are fragmented.