Why is Connect+ saying it will cost me $89.99 per year.

Because Garmin is a greedy company. Same in South Africa (where $1 = R18.50), they charge R150 per month which is $97 per year. LOL, and they expect people will pay that? 

don't pay and encourage this corporate greed and boneheaded management. They will just try charge more and deliver less until they feel the impact from people boycotting 

Garmin seems to have backed off charging anything for Connect+. I saw that posted yesterday and hopefully it wasn't an April fools prank.

It was an April Fools prank

I do not understand, why people want to make a subscribtion? Garmin is kidding us - this company is a joke now!

Same here. Just don't buy it.

Hi everyone,

Unfortunately, Garmin seems to have lost touch with its customers. Their watches come with steep prices, yet the heart rate sensors are still highly inaccurate – just take a look at the countless forum complaints. On top of that, features like ECG or PPG sensors are nowhere to be found.

Now they even have the audacity to charge €8.99 per month. Sadly, Garmin is digging its own grave – frustration is spreading across the internet.

If you’re looking for innovation, accuracy, and better value for money, consider switching to a different brand. For example:
  Huawei Watch Ultimate (German)  Huawei Watch Ultimate (English)
This watch offers far more features and is significantly more accurate than Garmin's devices.

9869093 said:

On top of that, features like ECG or PPG sensors are nowhere to be found.

Most watches got PPG (optical heart rate sensor) and the top watches got ECG. Or are you referring to something else?

Many functions. Diving, accurate heart rate, PPG Sensor detect arterial siffness and ateriosclerosis, BT Calling and much more.