Centralized only became mainstream when everything started to be offered "for free". When it was buy or pay recurrently more often the choice was to buy.

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troupo 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

There are no longer options to buy. Everything is a subscription

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rightbyte 2 days ago | parent [-]

Between mobilephone service including SMS and an ISP service which usually include mail I don't see the need for any hosted service.

There are FOSS alternatives for about everything for hobbyist and consumer use.

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api 2 days ago | parent [-]

There are no FOSS alternatives for consumer use unless the consumer is an IT pro or a developer. Regular people can’t use most open source software without help. Some of it, like Linux desktop stuff, has a nice enough UI that they can use it casually but they can’t install or configure or fix it.

Making software that is polished and reliable and automatic enough that non computer people can use it is a lot harder than just making software. I’d say it’s usually many times harder.

	▲	rightbyte 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		I don't think that is a software issue but a social issue nowadays. FOSS alternatives have become quite OK in my opinion. If computers came with Debian, Firefox and Libre Office preinstalled instead of only W11, Edge and with some Office 365 trail, the relative difficulty would be gone I think. Same thing with most IT departments only dealing with Windows in professional settings. If you even are allowed to use something different you are on your own.

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torginus 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

I think people have seen enough of this 'free' business model to know the things being sold for free are in fact, not.

	▲	mlrtime 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		Some people, but a majority see it as free. Go to your local town center and randomly poll people how much they pay for email or google search, 99% will say it is free and stop there.