Dikaios1517 on Nostr: Not unless I start using someone else's node, I don't, and then, yes, they could ...

Not unless I start using someone else's node, I don't, and then, yes, they could charge me a fee for its use if they so chose.

If my node is booted from the network, then I either need to find a way to get it reconnected, or I need to use someone else's, and only then do they have a legitimate reason to be paid for the service.

If my peers are booted from the network, my node will find new peers. And again, my node is providing exactly the same benefit to my peers as they are to me, so there is no reason any of us should pay the others.