"Register for free (for now!)" I can accept but having to tick the "please send me junk emails" box before the button to continue activates is naff. Hey ho.
I don't mind paying or signing up for it but agree that the price makes no sense, even for Azed. The UI really is awful.
I heard years ago that the old Grauniad crossword UI programmer - sadly died in a car crash and took all knowledge with him. No-one could work it out and it took them years to replace it.