I think it's totally the right thing to do. They can always adjust their price as the market dictates (where "market" is people who do/don't pay for the product

I think it's totally the right thing to do. They can always adjust their price as the market dictates (where "market" is people who do/don't pay for the product, not HN comments). Way better to charge and learn about what paying customers want, rather than make it cheap and hope to eventually convert them.