I remember when the barrier to entry as a software developer was the cost of tools like compilers. You had to rely on your school or employer to provide them. Most often, people pirated them. With current AI, pirating is not an option.

In the US, everyone is much more prosperous than they were 50 years ago. They don't blink about paying $50/month for a personal phone plan. They pay for multiple streaming plans. They have money coming out their ears. So paying $20-100/month might not discourage a lot of would-be vibe coders. But I don't think this is the case as much in other parts of the world.

Like it or not, agents are shaping up to be important tools. In a world with free IDEs, free forges, free compilers, etc. , the playing field is about to become less level. It's a bit of a momentum check.