So the very fact that one purchased a console should entitle him/her to free services afterwards? Well, actually you are 100% correct, because you do get ----- free PSN or XBL...

How hard is that to understand? 

It's not hard to understand.

My issue is when we are expected to pay $400USD for a console, $60USD per game, then pay a subscription on top of that just to use all their online features. It's an anti-consumer cash grab.

Do you even have or use PS or XBox? You don't have to pay to use all their online features. There are literally hundreds of games on Playstation you can pay to their fullest without paying a single cent outside of your internet bill. As well as access all of the apps on the consoles without paying MS or Sony anything. 

Also, you are not expected to buy anything, especially not games for $60. You can buy perfectly good games for $15, or wait for price drops. Heck, you can buy a console and play it non-stop for a decade without ever spending a single cent on games, if that's your preference...

I own an Xbox 360, yes.

You may be okay with companies locking away content and features behind paywalls, but I am not.

Of course, preferences and habits.

You may be used to getting everything served for free, but unfortunately real world doesn't function like that. I am just realistic, and accept that I sometimes must pay to get stuff. 

I pay for my consoles. I pay for my games. I'm just not going to let a corporation nickel and dime me with paywalls.

It is selling well because it's the most powerful system, priced well, and the Wii U is a flop. Sony is the new Nintendo when Nintendo is not Nintendoing right.