I don't think the HELP thing makes sense either...I think they will find fewer people opt to pay up front/voluntary payments especially those on lower incomes who can just skate along for decades without paying for any of it at all. These are the people they should be encouraging to make those payments.

Trill I think you raise a really good point - why are families around the $150K still "hanging on by their teeth"??? Is it because of real spending pressures, or have we just adopted different lifestyle "norms" and expect more right across the board, when paying for all of that is what creates the pressure?