I'll never understand where people got that idea that online gaming SHOULD be free??? Not only there is no basis to the argument but on top of that free solution have either nowhere close to the QoS of most pay solution or do not have half the features and option available to all their users...
so yeah comparing XBL to free solutions is like comparing F2P MMO to subscription ones...
and if you want to just play with friends you can do LANs or host your own servers for free with Xbox 360 just the same...you actually don't have to pay to play online MP on Xbox 360 if you don't want to...








