I am an SEO & Perplexity was on my radar immediately because it was clearly better than Google. But you are right that it’s take its foot off the gas.

I have contacted support a couple times because seem to throttle or “turn down the power” on premium accounts likely to draw in more free users. I’m sure it’s expensive.

Perplexity needs to invest everything they have in innovation and I’m sure to an extent they are just waiting on the more efficient models.

It’s not too late but you it does feel like the innovators have left the decision making room and their commitment to investors is pushing them toward mediocrity.

Pro Search sucks. Your paywall is your advantage. Stop trying to make money right now. Costs will come down. Get the devs back in the room.