Free private repos on github is relatively new, only introduced after a rise in popularity of gitlab (which has free private repos).
Seems like github is too popular for itself.
I know you said "relatively", but it's been seven and a half years: https://github.blog/changelog/2019-01-08-pricing-changes/
I know you said "relatively", but it's been seven and a half years: https://github.blog/changelog/2019-01-08-pricing-changes/