GPT - 4 is dumbed down (nerfed)? GPT-4 vision is only for specific group of people as of now (Nov 2023)?

I keep seeing this $250 fee mentioned again and again. I am a plus user with no additional credits that I am aware of, and I received API (not Chat) and Playground access to gpt-4-1106-preview the day it was announced. I do not understand what this $250 barrier to API access is.