Pricing is subjective, to each their own for what they value and how much. So this notwithstanding, it doesn’t look like a bad service in the slightest for how you can begin and continue using it.
No PII is involved. What’s the problem if you use a trustworthy VPN too?
I imagine it would be too much to do both Calyx and this at the same time, But that’s just reasonable conjecture for the difficulties and busyness I am reading he has gone through thus far. Though I’m sure there has to be another reason.