$20 is quite cheap, some people pay $50 more for all the collectors bonuses in some games which don't amount to much.

As it's a subscription game and not a free microtransaction game I don't think it would be appreciated. What is baffling is that ppl who wont play it threaten to quit if it's behind a paywall. Even when the question is clearly a hypothetical to see if people that like it would put their money where their mouth is.

Clearly people wouldn't pay for it if they don't want to play it, I don't think anyone thought they would, ever. Maybe someone that buys all optional items just be be completionist?