Dark Patterns
Yes, it’s a very common presentation indeed. But it’s misleading, because they clearly want people to focus on the monthly cost and not the yearly cost, when they will be paying the latter. To me, that’s a dark pattern.
It would be very easy for Proton and other companies to be more upfront and emphasize the yearly cost. There’s a reason why they don’t do it, even though both prices (monthly and yearly) are visible, though one more than the other.
Discounts
In regard to discounts, it’s my understanding that if you got one for your current subscription, you are not eligible for a new one, unless it’s for a different product. So if you got a discount for Proton Mail Plus last year, you can still get one for Proton Unlimited.
Although I imagine that most people are happy with the Proton Unlimited discounts, I am personally weary of them. Because, although they are sometimes affordable, I always do the math of how much they will cost after they expire, and it’s clear that it’s too expensive for me. Hence, why I never bite.
Of course, if you get a discount for a 1 or 2 year subscription, it gives you time to find the money for when you’ll be charged at regular price. Still, when it comes to Proton unlimited, unless I’m sure I can afford the regular price, I won’t go for the discount,
I personally wish Proton did lifetime discounts. They’ve only done it once, for Proton Pass, but I suspect that it’s only because it was a new product. I doubt they’ll do it again.
There are privacy products that I’m only able to afford because I have a lifetime discount. I don’t think Proton is that affordable, but even it I thought it was, subscriptions add up. If I’m paying 10 $40/year subscriptions, that is a lot!