I returned to AWS and was reminded why I left (fourlightyears.blogspot.com)

Article summary

The author, a former AWS enthusiast, recounts their experience returning to AWS after a long absence and being reminded of the reasons they initially left, including high costs, complexity, and poor customer support. The author's account was suspended due to a suspected security breach, causing issues with their business email and testing. The author had returned to AWS to test some services, but the experience reinforced their decision to leave the platform. The author criticizes various aspects of AWS, including its pricing model, complexity, and treatment of open-source projects.

Main themes

• AWS criticism
• Cloud computing costs
• Complexity of AWS services
• Customer support issues
• Open-source project treatment

What commenters say

• Some commenters agree that AWS has become too complex and expensive, and that alternative cloud providers offer better value and simplicity.
• Others argue that AWS is not inherently complicated, and that users can opt for simpler services like EC2 or Lightsail.
• There is disagreement about the cost-effectiveness of AWS, with some commenters citing examples of high egress costs and others arguing that prices have decreased over time.
• Some commenters prefer alternative cloud providers like Google Cloud or Heroku, citing better developer experiences and more competitive pricing.
• The treatment of open-source projects by AWS is a point of contention, with some commenters criticizing the company's actions as predatory.
• The complexity of AWS services, particularly IAM, is a major pain point for some users, while others find it manageable.
• Some commenters have had positive experiences with AWS services like Lightsail, while others warn against using it due to high costs and poor performance.