Finally, the ads have gotten to me and I decided to subscribe. But there seems to be no option except through Paypal.
Two things about the ads. When they are on the side, I can live with them. Now they obscure the text. Second, every change in ad leads to a new tab which means the back button no longer works. Ad block seems to have no effect. So I decided to subscribe. But I am not about to open a Paypal account just for this.
I’ve never needed a Paypal account to subscribe (and resubscribed without one just a month or so ago). Subscribing with a credit card is done via Paypal, but there’s no need to click the button that says “Why yes, I’d like to get an actual Paypal account” (or words to that effect).