Doesn't this just point out the fact that there is really only two classes of WP Publishers? Those that are handheld through Wordpress.com and those that self host? Those that self-host need to be expert enough to provide their own management, and not be reliant on a hosting company leading them down the garden path? If they can't handle that, then use Wordpress.com and the limitations that come with that approach, and it's free. If you don't want the restrictions, then self-host, and step up and do and be what needs to be. None of the "Managed Options", in my opinion, are worth the price, because they leave or have left large holes in their plans (like the one above (usually in the form of poor or stupid support). Therefore, if someone needs their site to be managed, they should probably find someone that already is publishing WP sites and "manages" them, that would take on additional sites for a realistic fee, because WP isn't free. As good as it has become in calendar 2013, it requires constant maintenance, plugging security holes, monitoring, fixing stupid content mistakes, resolving incompatible theme and plugin updates, and a multitude of other site over-lording to keep WP alive and kicking. So perhaps the better alternative to "Managed" hosting, is creating a legion of WP "Big Brothers" who will manage and host non-Wordpress.com sites for people? But regardless, there is no free lunch with Wordpress, except through Wordpress.com and God love them for it (though our couple thousand WP sites and us travel the solo road - but that's why there are minions)!