This is really disheartening! $299 to add a "free" service? I mean, I get that there's more to it than just adding Google Analytics but what about users on the premium tier? In all honesty, GA tracking should be available to ALL WP.com users. Why would you prevent/charge users for something that is essentially free?

Can't say I sympathise with WP.com users though. Moves like this prove once again that to have full control of your online assets, a self hosted solution is the best solution. Yes, it comes with added effort and administration, fears of getting hacked, etc. but following best practices coupled with quality coded themes, plugins and top notch hosting, all these issues are *easily* circumvented. But if you want to be subjected to the ascendancy of others, who am I to argue? :)