im not sure, maybe you are actually me?
frugal usenet here as well but i have collected block accounts over the years that really never get used so they just sit there.
If blocks work for your traffic patterns, then stick with it. im sure most download so much that blocks dont make sense to use when an unlimited acocunt is pretty cheap.
What is the monthly fee for Usenet?
About 5 bucks a month or a little less if you pay by the year.
i wouldnt waste my time with torrents now. it is one of those things hard to explain but once you make the jump for yourself you will just know and wish you did it long ago. if you are all in for under a $100 per year, i dont consider that expensive at all.