Some feedback on communications, especially given the backlash:
1. "Why are we doing this?" should be the very first item. Explain it in clear terms.
2. The blog post that explains the "why" is rather scant on details, with the real "why" buried in text. Nuh-uh. Make it front end center and make it detailed. Developers all across the world have to deal with fraud and abuse and are sympathetic to how expensive it is. We get it. So lay it all out for us! Explain why, in detail, it's so cost-prohibitive that you have no choice but to shut down the free tier! Maybe we'll have more empathy and believe you when you say you really are doubling down on other offerings. Maybe you'll learn that you can actually keep the free tier, since some people in the community have suggestions you hadn't considered yet, and in a few months' time you'll get to thank them for their contributions towards improving your practices and keeping the free tier free forever. Who knows? But without a lot of details, nobody can be of help.
1. "Why are we doing this?" should be the very first item. Explain it in clear terms.
2. The blog post that explains the "why" is rather scant on details, with the real "why" buried in text. Nuh-uh. Make it front end center and make it detailed. Developers all across the world have to deal with fraud and abuse and are sympathetic to how expensive it is. We get it. So lay it all out for us! Explain why, in detail, it's so cost-prohibitive that you have no choice but to shut down the free tier! Maybe we'll have more empathy and believe you when you say you really are doubling down on other offerings. Maybe you'll learn that you can actually keep the free tier, since some people in the community have suggestions you hadn't considered yet, and in a few months' time you'll get to thank them for their contributions towards improving your practices and keeping the free tier free forever. Who knows? But without a lot of details, nobody can be of help.