I recently started using it, and it does somewhat fill that itch of "looking at pretty pictures" that instagram used to fill (almost a year fb/insta-clean now). But to me it seem like a niche platform attracting photographers and creative people that showcase very good photos. I'm somewhat in that niche so I like it but when I stumble on the small clicks of people using it more as a social "hey frinds (insert "vsco girls" meme), here's what I ate for lunch, sucks to be you" I immediately think "hey, this is not instagram goml!". But maybe it is/will be?

Tying it to smartphones and camera apps sucks.

It is not tied to camera apps - you can just upload any image you have in the gallery. Also, you can upload from the web

Ah ok, is this new? For some reason I've had the impression that it was only usable on mobile, now I wonder why.

VSCO costs $40 a month.

No it's free. They have a premium membership for $20 per year. Where are you getting your information?