I've been in the industry now for a decade or so? - So I've always known more about getting free porn than your average surfer. I've also had more resources than the average surfer. Even had free logins to dozens of sites because I was a good affiliate.
I've still pretty much had subscriptions to sites the entire time. Hell, I had a 2 year subscription to one expire last month.
I also have half a dozen or so subscriptions to mainstream sites as well.
People will always pay for porn. If you're providing a good enough service - which honestly probably 80% of the industry isn't, I'm betting 80% or more of paysites are still running off the site model that was being used in the 90s. So there is that. I would say my biggest concern if I'm considering a subscription is getting my card dinged. I've had both scams where in one case I got 3-4 random charges to my card upon signing up. Then the other where I clicked on "hidden join links" and was charged for upgrades / cross sales just by clicking on an image/link with no confirmation of purchase. Not only are both these methods completely illegal practices but they really give the industry a black eye. And hell, I've been an affiliate forever, developed half a dozen or more sites, and I've even run my own paysite. I know the game, and I know the tricks - and I still got hit a couple times.
Anyway, point is. People pay for porn. People pay for everything. We're consumers. There is a free market for everything out there. I could probably go get most anything free. However I usually always choose the paid version, because I want the quality and service the premium version offers. A major problem in porn is the lack of innovation. There are very very few paysites and "pay services" actually innovating and keeping up with or ahead of trends and technology. The free side of the industry is light years ahead of what the paid side is doing. Therefore the industry as whole has let the free market outgrow and stand above the paid side in the majority of cases. Adapt or die, and a large number are standing six feet underground.
The moral of the story is people are out there willing to pay, and even wanting to pay. It's just likely that you aren't offering something worth paying for.
