I agree with your sentiment here. It really bugs me that I can't run my own mail server without having to channel everything through my ISP's mail server just because other people can't handle properly configuring their computers so as to avoid being used as spam launching stations. I purchase internet access, but I don't get internet access... I get a filtered connection that allows me to operate on ports the ISP determines are safe for me to have access to. What comes next? Will my ISP determine what websites are appropriate for me to access, what hours I should be allowed to access, what OS I can use, etc.? I don't like this paternalistic regulating of my bandwidth, I don't think it's necessary, and I think ISPs that do so should be liable for theft of services, but, alas, the only way you can get the bandwidth is to pay what they ask, sign their TOSes, shut up and like it.