I used Manta with the android app and deleted my account, hoping to make a new account not connected to Google and pay that way. But I couldn't log in with anything other than Google, Apple or Facebook. Figured it was an app thing and opened Manta in a browser. However the same thing showed up when I wanted to sign up. So if you ever find a way, let me know.

[–] HarkMahlberg@kbin.earth 1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

I've never heard of the site until now. But indeed, there is no such "Register new account" page, it all goes to the stupid "Sign in with the Big 3" modal. What a fucking joke.

It doesn't help that I learned this site operates on a "gem" economy, and I just do not fucking understand why commercial manga sites do this. Steam charges you cash for games, Amazon and Netflix charge cash for movies and series, even the Google Play Store just uses USD (or whatever local currency). Why do manga sites operate like a fucking pachinko parlor?

[–] Skaudottir@piefed.social 2 points 51 minutes ago* (last edited 51 minutes ago) (1 children)

Yeah, it didn't do that years ago. You do get some series, if you just sign up for the base subscription. I don't know if these are made with the site and the rest are licensed, which is why you need to pay extra to read them?
But the enshittification is real. People lose the sense of how mu h money they spend, when you have to buy tokens to pay. And you can never buy the correct amount, so you end up having to pay more for enough tokens to get what you want.
It's shit and I just took this as a sign, to not participate anymore. I won't be sailing the seas, but I absolutely get the people who do.

Edit for grammar

[–] HarkMahlberg@kbin.earth 1 points 33 minutes ago

Well you said it best, "it costs more than money."