I can get that publishers may not see profitable selling access to individual articles. I can get they don't want to sell an individual issue like they used to sell paper copies. I can understand they have annual RPU target so short-term subscriptions are off the table. But not offering an option of a limited time subscription without auto-renewal is a scam.
Auto-renewal should be an opt-in. Unsubscribing should not require a phone call. Then we may talk loyal subscribers and how publishers are actually the good guys.
Recently I avoid any CC subscriptions and subscribe exclusively through PayPal. And as the first payment goes through, I cancel automatic payments.
This is my bug-bare. It shouldn't be permitted for unsubscribing to be more difficult than subscribing. There are many examples where you can sign-up to spend instantly 24/7 but have to call, only M-F, 0900-1700, on a number that probably costs, and sit in a queue for a while, to unsubscribe. Even seemingly reputable periodicals do this (New Scientist: not sure if they have an online unsubscribe option, but they certainly didn't a not-long while ago).
Auto-renewal should be an opt-in. Unsubscribing should not require a phone call. Then we may talk loyal subscribers and how publishers are actually the good guys.
Recently I avoid any CC subscriptions and subscribe exclusively through PayPal. And as the first payment goes through, I cancel automatic payments.