By paying requirements I mean, that at least the German government sometimes still provides documents in Microsoft formats using macros, templates and design features, that are not supported by open source, or free alternatives.

In my opinion, every document provided by a city, a state, a country, should be available in the least expensive way and it is really no big hustle to turn MS stuff into open formats.

Regarding the HTML problem, I think everything can suck hard, if someone wants it to or doesn’t care. But honestly I myself don’t know how to address that in a useful way except for annoying people until they do things right.

I don’t know about FTP, a useful and crawlable website is fine for me.

What I am much more taking issues with, is the use of proprietary file formats like the MS ones.

I maybe am overly critical, but in my opinion, public access should be access without any redundant payment requirements.