I'm sure losing any one free-user is inconsequential and even advantageous per free account they rid themselves of. BUT, there's a massive brand-value to being

I'm sure losing any one free-user is inconsequential and even advantageous per free account they rid themselves of. BUT, there's a massive brand-value to being the place, and the company that everyone goes to. Losing that status is something they might not survive, especially in the user-hostile manner they are acting. The hate-your-user approach works only if there are no alternatives and competitors who would like to eat your lunch (github, gitlab).