You are right that “publishers need to adapt and innovate — quicker than they did last time” — and that “ micropayments (or a pay-per-article [PPA] option) are not a cure-all.” And yes, now that “consumers are willing to pay for high-quality written content, it’s time to give them options for how they pay and consume said content.” However, we need much more creativity and innovation in how we do that!

Both current ideas of pre-priced micropayments and of all you can eat subscriptions fail to accommodate the huge variability in value of what is an experience good with highly individualized value perceptions/outcomes, and almost no marginal cost. This post makes good points about how a range of options is needed and about some ways to overcome the inherent problems with micropayment/PPA solutions, but we need a deeper rethinking of how we charge to sustain content.

Here are some ideas that have gotten some interest:

A broad critique of the problems with micropayment/PPA solutions, as well as current subscription models — and how to do better: “The Case Against Micropayments” versus “Subscription Hell” — Finding Flexibility.

A simple way to span the range of consumption levels that runs from micropayment/PPA to unlimited subscriptions: “Risk-Free” Subscriptions to The Celestial Jukebox?

A more comprehensive vision of how to really address the full range of potential customers: Patron-izing Journalism — Beyond Paywalls, Meters, and Membership.

Much more on a holistic view of a new logic for more win-win business models especially suited to digital content, including its basis in behavioral economics, is in this list of items.