Why does AOL attempt to increaser paid memberships through negative treatment of unpaid members, instead of using positive enticements?

 Why is it that AOL attempts to increase its paid membership through fear, threats and frustration instead of emphasizing positive reasons to upgrade to paid membership?  Most individuals would think that  having a positive experience as a free member would, by itself, encourage an upgrade.  And, requiring a paid membership in order to have any real time help says alot of negative things about AOL.  And, why does it so often appear that unpaid memberships are the ones who can't get a connection, get dropped, get told to sign out and back in, get timed out, etc.?

I was a paid member for many years, now unpaid, so I certainly know the differences.

And, what godly reason could there be for requiring my birth date in order to submit this question?

It will tell me alot when I do or do not get a rational, reasonable reply.