Don’t pay this! You just reinforce their predatory practices. How renewals at much higher prices are allowed - no clue!

Something similar happened to a company I know - it expired and was immediately bought by domain squatters, when they found them they were told that it couldn’t be sold back because the squatter had paid $XXXX for and had big plans (I assume it was BS, just a premise to get paid - no site was ever put on the domain)

Solution: they bought the .org version and bought the .com back a year later.

edit:grammar

Just a thought… Google wrote the ‘we have no moat’ document. Is it possible that they are intentionally trying to turn public opinion against AI? [no moat document] It’s a bit like they are intentionally churning out shit AI (it won’t damage their monopoly) to turn people against using AI (which might topple some serious business interests)… In short you’re right, but I get suspicious when big business seems to be doing the right thing. :D [edit: espirit d’escalier!]