Microsoft Rolls Services Together, Charges Users

Gizmodos site reads, "which rolls Office Home and Student, Windows Live OneCare, Office Live Workspace and some other Live services into a package that you'll pay a monthly fee for. " [Link]

After reading this article from Gizmodos' website, I am actually not surprised at this move. I remember a time, and it still may be this way, that just for basic MSN Explorer help, you were charged a fee after so many calls / minutes spent on the phone.

Now, having said that, if Microsoft makes this pay-per-service package the only option available to people, then that is a bad, bad move.

With the Open Source and online web apps that are being developed, such as Googles' Google Docs and Open Office, why would Microsoft make the switch to force people to pay for a service that they may or may not want / need?

I am hoping that this is an option for people who know little or nothing about PCs' and who want someone else to take care of their issues. Personally, I have no need for such a monthly subscription package, but I am not everyone.