I'm very lucky to have started learning programming before these companies were figuring out their business models. I took the very first Udacity courses when they were completely free and was able to launch my career as a software engineer with the knowledge I gained from them. I was making barely enough money to survive at the time and had no idea if I actually wanted to make a career out of programming. If I had been forced to commit such a large amount of money at the time, I highly doubt I would have continued forward with the classes, and worse, they would have started to feel like work instead of fun, which was the issue I had with traditional college in the first place.
I sincerely hope that there continues to be sources of high quality course materials available without the risk and stress of payment attached so that other kids can have the opportunities I had when I was getting started.
I'm taking some Udacity courses now and mine are free, from what I understand the courses themselves are all free unless there is an inherent cost, however if you want a nanodegree or some other mentoring etc, then those added value options will require joining as a paid member which is as it should be.
As well I agree with you, for me I've learned recently that having a mentor and paying is demotivating for me. I like clocking hours and hours studying to learn software development on my own and pushing myself is far more motivational than having someone else adding structure and deadlines. I would have never thought that until it happened and I was like wow I'm slacking off now rather than clocking the huge hours I was doing before on my own.
I sincerely hope that there continues to be sources of high quality course materials available without the risk and stress of payment attached so that other kids can have the opportunities I had when I was getting started.