My grievances with Proton

This seems inherent to email aliases, or actually email addresses in general. Switching accounts to a new email generally has no cost, but if you will lose access to the email on an account you have to switch it out- or reset via the backup email on your account, or call tech support to verify your identity… lots of ways to get back in for important stuff, usually. Preferring paying ($36 per year in the case of proton pass) to doing that is understandable, but it’s a decision one is making. Also, duck aliases are unlimited and free. I don’t know why people discount them. Maybe they will cost money someday, though, as it can’t be free to run.