I really wish it was, because PS4 owners wouldn't have to pay to play online then.

Indeed.  The reality is now that it's been shown to be a proven and profitable revenue stream, it'll take a very serious effort by people who really want to play games, to put an end to it.  And right now, in the current climate among gamer's, I just don't see that happening.

We also never know if it'll make its way onto PC either.  Because it's went so well for the console publishers, I'm sure Valve has messed around with the idea of forcing a fee to play online on Steam as well.  Whether  they'll eventually go through with it is a different story.

Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but I can say emphatically it's got zero chance with me.  There are far too many games that allow me to make my own servers, to have to aquiesce to anything Valve, Microsoft, Sony etc... try to force on me.  Yes, I would have to forgo certain titles in the future, but I had no problem saying no to titles I objected to on similar grounds over the past Gen.

.-.

I'm surprised they expected MS to charge. Steam has the lion's share of the market. Charging simply won't help MS at all.

It's going to take a great deal of effort on Microsoft's part to bring back their relevence to the PC community.  Steam will be untouchable for years to come.

What about the games we get that makes the 5$ a month seem like they are paying us.  I understand you are not in our position but you can't diss gold and plus when they offer us gamers the best sub services in gaming.  

They made a mistake entering the console industry and they only just realised it.  They see PC as the long term future and they wasted 15 years battling sony and Nintendo.  Now they see STEAM as their real threat and they've given them a free pass to utterly dominate and corner the market on Microsoft's very own program.  

1. I dont know about current XBL but with PS+ you stop subscribing you lose the games. 

2. MS only just started doing that. It hasnt been the case for a long time, so what were people paying for prior to that?