I apologise in advance as I really can't think of a way to say this without coming across as rude, but I seriously think eBay should ditch the 30 free listings because instead of sellers looking back and saying thanks for making it easy for me to get started  there seem to be more and more these days who are ungrateful and complain when eBay say, now you have succeeded and have to pay your own way.

My thoughts (since you asked for them):  having started on eBay well before the days of free listings along with many other sellers I am starting to get somewhat annoyed by all of the complaints from sellers who have the misfortune of success sneak up on them.  If you don't want to pay fees then don't list. 

Think of it in the same way as when a parent says to their child, now that you are earning money I want you to pay board.  Some children are happy to contribute ... others quit their job because they prefer to sponge.

BTW threads on this subject pop up every month just after the re-evalution of PS status so you are not the first to complain.... so sorry for venting on your post. If yours had been the 1st, or the 50th I would still be biting my tongue.  I just can't believe so many people don't realise it was a gift, not a right.