[almostnormal]

Centralized only became mainstream when everything started to be offered "for free". When it was buy or pay recurrently more often the choice was to buy.

[troupo]

There are no longer options to buy. Everything is a subscription

[rightbyte]

Between mobilephone service including SMS and an ISP service which usually include mail I don't see the need for any hosted service.

There are FOSS alternatives for about everything for hobbyist and consumer use.

[torginus]

I think people have seen enough of this 'free' business model to know the things being sold for free are in fact, not.

[mlrtime]

Some people, but a majority see it as free. Go to your local town center and randomly poll people how much they pay for email or google search, 99% will say it is free and stop there.