Already sorted it with my Eternal Bond partner and we plan to pay for the gold plan. Why? Dat vanity.
Is it game breaking? No. Is it gonna break our wallets? Most probably not.

Neither of us were even slightly bothered when it was announced about the paid option. The only other way to get a 2-seat chocobo is through refer-a-friend... and y'all are SERIOUSLY surprised that you have to pay to get one through this?
For god's sake, there is a free option. You still get some/all of the benefits of the bond itself, just without the vanity it seems- is it really the end of the world?