I do actually get it. Some people don't like how they have to subscribe for a monthly cost.
If all they do is check e-mail and browse the occasional website then PAYG dial up could suffice for their needs.
TBF since dad died, my mother could probably suffice on dial-up as she refuses to do a lot of things on line and apart from the odd photo's and messages thats her limit. The only reason she needs DSL is for when the like of the grandkids or me are there and we hook up our devices. My nieces are very much into streaming.