The main point: accounts are (and always have been) totally free.

They are no longer free. There is now an RC cost associated to it as there is a cost associated with just about every activity on the blockchain since the adoption to HF20.

... so unless you can prove otherwise...?

If my assumptions are correct it would be hard to prove a negative. How about you create a free account with no cost in STEEM and/or RCs to prove your point? A screen shot of steemd.com before and after the account creation should clarify things.

Start an account (or log into an existing one) with 0 SP, and see where you get with it.

All accounts created by me since HF20 have been delegated 25 SPs until they get on their feet. Two xmas present accounts were given 500 STEEM to power up to minnow level if they want. One has powered up 500 STEEM, the other 100 STEEM.

There is starting to be some traction around the idea of RC delegation. With such a system a dApp could create an account with no cost to the user, if they do not already have an account, and delegate enough RCs to use the dApp for its use/session. If you begin to see steemit, busy, et al, as just glorified dApps on the blockchain then HF20 may start to make more sense to you. If not, then no harm done.

STEEM On!!! ✌