The changeover from the old system with free access to the new system of access starting at $5k has been a total shambles. Companies typically going through major changes make a new website that they change over to at the appropriate time. Nearmap seems to be doing things haphazardly, if at all (including cancelling existing contracts).
I too wonder why there is (as of yet, and given NMs financial situation, maybe never) no 'community' licence, of around $10/month. That's the same as a magazine subscription or two. Limit access by data (as they are limiting all commercial users now as well), or by area around registered address, or by image date (only view images older than a year, for example), or reduced resolution, or whatever. None of it is technically impossible, but they have chosen not to do it for whatever reason. The end result is that they aren't getting $5k from me (for just one state? Give me a break), nor are they getting a regular $10/month.