As another HN commenter pointed out, it allows the blue mark to stratify Twitter into two classes of users: the "distinguished verified users" which now directl

As another HN commenter pointed out, it allows the blue mark to stratify Twitter into two classes of users: the "distinguished verified users" which now directly fund Twitter, and the proles which provide nothing but eyes for ad revenue. Monetizing verified users turns them into a "voter base" that Twitter must explicitly cater to in order to continue receiving benefits. If you're paying $20/mo, you damn sure expect that your tweets will reach the largest possible audience. And if you don't pay up, well, tough luck. Basically, it sets up the platform for "All speech is free, but some speech is more free than others."