VPNs can solve the problem only temporarily. But what will happen is that ISPs will stop upgrading their "regular" networks, and upgrade only the "fast lanes"

VPNs can solve the problem only temporarily. But what will happen is that ISPs will stop upgrading their "regular" networks, and upgrade only the "fast lanes" networks. VPN providers will either be outright denied access to those fast lanes or they won't be able to afford using them. So in a few years, whether you're using a VPN or not, you'll still be in the "regular" (read: slow) lane, while the big companies will likely have to move to the "fast lane" (and pay the ISPs for the privilege). The more time passes, the worse this will get for small companies, as the needs for data consumption and bandwidth increase, so eventually internet users will slowly move to the fast-lane-using services and dump the others. Also, the more money the ISPs will make from the "fast lanes" the less incentive they'll have to upgrade their regular slow lanes (unless fierce competition appears, which may not), because it just means companies will have bigger "incentive" to pay them for the fast lane access.