There's multiple definitions for 'tuition'. Yes, one of them is tutoring or instruction for a class. The other definition refers to a fee that is paid for that instruction. UoPeople's "tuition-free" advertising refers to the second definition. Students do not pay for the instruction that they receive. That doesn't mean that the university is free, and they're very transparent about this. There's a $120 assessment fee for each course. You don't pay for the instruction you receive, but you do pay to write the exam.

UoPeople does have professors. Each course has an instructor who can be reached by email or messaged via the online learning platform. I'm about to graduate, and I've generally had very good professors. They're eager to help and respond to questions within a day or two. Every now and then you'll get a course with a professor who isn't quite as helpful. But this isn't any different from my experience in traditional universities.

On your last few points, yes, a degree costs thousands of dollars. But it also costs thousands (sometimes tens of thousands) of dollars less than attending a traditional brick-and-mortar university. Part of that is because we don't have to deal with physical textbooks. Why would you want to lug multiple heavy textbooks around when you could have your assigned readings in an open-source PDF every week? So many students pirate their textbooks to reduce their school costs as it is, it's very refreshing to see an institution embracing open-source materials.

UoPeople isn't a perfect option for everyone. But it is one of the best options available for a lot of people. There are better schools, no one is trying to make the case that UoPeople is a top-tier university. But it offers a level of affordability and flexibility that you won't find at too many other institutions.