Just because API rates are ridiculously expensive doesn't mean we can't complain about how convoluted subscriptions are.

Offering an alternative, overpriced product in order to anchor the other one doesn't make OpenAI immune to criticism. As it stands it is impossible to make an informed choice about which subscription from which provider to buy or whether API price vs subscription is for you because there is no indication at all what amount of usage you get in a subscription, and it's highly likely to be different for different people on the same plans.

Imagine if Netflix offered subscriptions to watch a certain number of hours of shows. But they didn't tell you how many hours you would get, and each show deducted your hours at a different rate (which also was not disclosed and constantly changing). People would be mad.