> At $8/month, that's patently not true.

Who needs one that cannot afford $8/month? Does anyone really need it?

> Why should verification be anything other than a pay-once deal, if it has to be paid for at all?

It is not just verification though. Verification is just part of the subscription.

> Who needs one that cannot afford $8/month? Does anyone really need it?

A lot of freelance writers, in my experience.

> It is not just verification though. Verification is just part of the subscription.

That's a fair point, but why not make verification free (or a one-off payment) and remove it from the subscription feature package?

What happens if you freelance write without a blue check?

A bad actor can impersonate you and damage your reputation, commit scams in your name, etc.