How long do these prices last? Seems like the super-high price would reduce their top of funnel, since people like me (who end up on the site infrequently) would never consider it at the listed price.
Usually if you somehow end up in this kind of sales funnel, you get offered a ridiculously cheap first year subscription. Say $20 for first year, but then it's $12 a month after that. You call to cancel, and they'll keep dropping the price until it's back to that $2 or $3 a month.
You're right — they also have low-price options at the beginning. I just tried loading an article and, what do you know, I was "selected" to be able to subscribe for just 99¢!