I think the problem is user fees for a system that is supposedly funded by the entirety of society so we can ensure fair process. If you have to pay for literally nothing, it rankles. Instead, the system should just be funded by taxes like (most of) the courts themselves. Perhaps there could be user fees for extremely high usage, but $10 seems like an extremely low bar for $0.08 per page. The system as it exists appears to simply discourage the public from getting too nosy in the workings of the courts.
I think it should be more like the post office or public transit, where a nominal fee is charged (or none at all) but that fee is not the primary source of funding. Small fees are very effective at limiting the human tendency to abuse anything offered at $0. I agree that the current fees are higher than is necessary to prevent abuse - and I think it should be free to taxpayers.
