Rumor Mill

Another reason is people buying smartphones without data plans, then using hundreds of dollars worth of data then complaining about it and telling their friends about the company ripping them off/crappy customer service or if the company reverses the charges they have to pay the care rep and their supervisor (who has to authorize the credit) who costs them even more costing the company a large sum of money.

Either way it was not good for the company or consumer and the companies are just covering their assets by requiring data. It is kinda like McDonalds selling lukewarm coffee now because they were sued over a customers stupidity.