> $200 a month is only $2400 a year. That’s 4.16 years until you spend 10k. I don’t find it reasonable at all. Subsidized Subscriptions or api for cheaper models, is the best value.

If you buy your own hardware, then after those four years you still have that hardware, and it likely still holds significant value. Plus you know the local model you're running today won't change or suddenly degrade in four months, let alone four years. Whereas after four years of paying subscriptions and API costs, you have literally nothing.

Energy costs (including capex if you buy batteries or solar) complicate things.

Four year old hardware has almost zero value.