I understand that free-tier access will always have limitations compared to paid plans. But after the latest update, free users feel like complete outsiders.
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We were forced into “thinking-mini” with no option to switch.
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Image generation is gone or broken most of the time.
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Paid users at least still have a choice — but free users are left with the feeling that we don’t matter anymore.
Yes, OpenAI may not “lose money” if free users leave… but you do lose something important: trust and goodwill. Free users are often the ones who later become paying subscribers. If the free experience feels this harsh, many will simply leave for good.
Please reconsider. Even a small toggle or option would make a huge difference. Right now it feels like free users are being pushed aside.