I sort of understand your point here, but I choose to see that a different way. The only reason I’m a Trainerroad subscriber now is because I was one of those freeloaders. I browsed the forums and listened to the podcasts, and I learned a lot being completely new to cycling. So when it came to deciding on a training platform, I went to Trainerroad specifically because I felt like thanking them for that information. And if my money now helps fund those resources for other new cyclists, perhaps they’ll want to join Trainerroad and grow the community in the forum, etc.
So yea, you kind of are paying for those freeloaders, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. I think it just comes down to what exactly you value. Strictly using a product vs. the community of the product vs. supporting a company whose values you share. Each of those adds different amounts of value (or none) to each individual. At the end of the day, maybe that value just isn’t there for you, and that’s fine as well.
As far as your plan, I’m starting to focus on XC and have had to change my plan as to not burn myself out as well. I went from a MV plan to a LV plan then adding rides. I’ll normally do the 3 planned TR rides, add a pump track or other technical skill type ride with low TSS during the week, and a longer more taxing ride on the weekend. Takes some tinkering, but it can certainly be done.