I honestly don't think $8 a month is that much. The only problem is I have no idea what I'm paying for.
I'm not currently verified and my Twitter experience is fine. My followers know who I am. Nobody is confused.
I've always interpreted verification as a signal to everybody else on the platform that Twitter considers you a notable person.
I don't see how paying $8 to Twitter would signal anything to anybody, except that I used to have $8 and I gave it away for no reason, in which case, it all feels a bit silly.
Loading suggestions...