I don’t know how people expect me to respond when they say they would love to read my column, but the @nytimes has a fire wall and wants them to subscribe. I will never tell you what to do with your money. But, journalism is a profession like any other. Do you work for free?
Or just pick up a copy of the paper as you suggest. Other digital options like day passes and micropayments haven’t taken off anywhere because they’re terrible.