If you read Thibault's blog about the starting of Lichess (
lichess.org/@/thibault/blog/how-i-started-building-lichess/JwtcE0KO), there is no way it would start as a pay to play site. Also if it was, no would have joined at the start and the site most likely would have been abandoned. With the help of the chess community, volunteers, and now mods and site keepers, we have the current Lichess. Lichess can't make the switch to pay to play now, and couldn't have during the process either. They also would be owing all the helpers money if it becomes pay to play now and many of those good souls have to be tracked now. Lichess would also lose a tremendous amount of people and all. But to be real, Lichess mods are getting payed and so are the people who still create it daily. People who donate help change Lichess daily, and if you love this site you should definitely do so. I feel Lichess did it the best way it could and let the people who love this site and want to, donate, and let others play chess in the non-profit chess site they love. They don't even advertise donating or anything to let people play what they came on this site to do, chess. To be real, Lichess would never do become a pay to play site, and will stay the beloved Lichess that will continue to change for the better. Hey, you never know maybe we might get another legendary April Fools! Lichess and Horsey = The Best Chess Site Ever :D