No one is saying that you should pay for every little feature.
This whole thread is about a service which, in my opinion, is worth that $10 (or $5 for the standard plan) when its results are way better than the alternatives and, as the business plan is clear, it doesn't sell you to third-parties.
And obviously, I don't assume that the same people above who suggest self-hosting SearXNG are in remote third world countries, because economically the price is on par with it. (Yeah, yeah, "But muh $5/mo vps can do it!" You manage that and keep up with it and see how you like it just to save those nickels and dimes.)
Search was never free. And we're talking about just $10.
If it wasn't for the expensive drives, I would.