How is it more realistic to have somebody maintain hardware and software over time, and not pay for that service over time? Their business doesn't care if "you only buy the hard drive once".

The point is that a subscription with a 2TB harddrive is much more expensive than a subscription with a 100GB harddrive.

I just want a to pay a fair price. Not a price based on ungrounded assumptions.

It's like going to a restaurant where the food is cheap but the drinks are crazy expensive.

Whatever disk capacity you buy your data sits on multiple disks running 24/7. It costs electricity + maintenance when disks break.

If you want a fixed price you have to do it your self. It will be cheaper, but less safe, less accessible and more involved.

Again, I totally understand this. What I don't understand is the huge price difference.