Plus, this is not even a new model. Costco has blocked access to non members for decades now. No member card, no shopping at Costco. No big deal.

Many other retailers (most of them in fact) think that they'd rather keep access free to all, and don't implement a membership system. Free market.

And by the way, we log on to an app or website to buy stuff on Amazon all the time. No account, no shopping.

So I agree - when the digital prison system comes, it won't be because of this.