The big reason I try to get people to leave them is that they are too big. Having one ISP overshadowing all others is bad for the Internet. The Internet is what it is today because many people worked together each doing a small part and finding ways to work together cooperatively. If one player gets big enough to control it, we will all be paying and strengthening one who will be making the rules for the rest of us. The cooperative nature of the Internet will be lost and it will be just another service like cable TV or cellular phones. Here's more about AOL.

Small local ISPs are just as good, often much better, than the big ones. Support them if they are available to you. If you want help, ask me.