I think that the fact that DW allows for the split creates an inherently different sort of user culture. I've been here since the beginning (albeit not posting the whole time), and I've never thought of just subscribing as rude. In fact, I find it a bit odd if someone I don't know both subscribes to me and gives me access unless, as was mentioned above, they have a locked journal. I usually return the gesture, but that's owing more to my having very little locked content and none of that being especially private than my feeling compelled by some unspoken site standard.