I TOTALLY agree!!! I live in ID so our rates are $0.11 on average so even charging at a Tesla or EA charger at the $0.48 membership discount rate makes no sense. My HEV is my first and I was really shocked with EA supercharger rates between CA and NV. NV's residential rates are much lower than CA but EA list price and membership discounted rates were the same in both CA and NV. I have no idea why, but my first thought was NV supercharger users are being screwed. EA and EVGO list price, i.e., non member prices were also the same in CA, NV and ID...even though based rates are wildly different...CA rates being 2-3 higher than NV and ID.
For long distance trips, memberships fees are totally worth it. The fact that you can suspend or cancel membership once the trip is over makes it even better. That said, EA requires you to preload your account with purchase credits vs charging your card which caused me to end up with a $32 credit on my previous trip. As I understand it, if I cancel my membership after the trip is done then i also lose my $32 credit. That s_cks!!!.
IMHO, EV owners are exposed to a wild, wild west version of exploitation when it comes to public supercharger companies. Again, IMHO, EV owners are vulnerable to the whims of Silicon Valley venture capitalists vs traditional gas/diesel companies.
This belief is the major reason why i push back on other posters to post facts vs generalizatons. IMHO, EV fueling start ups are being pressured by their VC backers to maximize profitability while they can, at EV owners expense. Again, based on my own opnion.