There's a paid option I think (I wouldn't consider that for myself, but stumbled upon it while searching for a way to solve this issue). But I'd also argue that
a) you're paying, if someone offers a free service that is shoving ads in your face all the time, tries to hijack your home page and lures you to install browser toolbars and whatnot. It isn't free, you generate revenue.
b) no service, free or not, should cause you to lose access to your data. While you might mumble "Backups! You should have those" that .. isn't exactly a decent reaction or something to tell a 70+ person either. Plus, the email address is an online identity. Tied into other services (password recovery there is now broken). Causing loss of future data, backups or not. If you provide a service like that, you should provide excellent ways to regain access to that in my world.
c) I'd probably (well, not me. I'd make her..) pay for a ticket. Given the option..
