I try to keep up with industry trends and even after reading all the news about SWTOR subscriber numbers taking a nosedive and BioWare's many blunders with the game, I didn't expect them to introduce a hybrid F2P model this soon. Then again, I didn't know they'd dropped below a million subscribers.
I still won't play it since (1) never really feeling like I own a game takes away from the experience for me (understanding that it doesn't for others; maybe I'm just too old fashioned) and (2) Guild Wars 2. GW2 uses a pay-once-and-we-hope-you-buy-expansions model, which I strongly prefer to the F2P model. GW2 is also shaping up to be immensely popular among ToJ members at launch.
But to all those who take SWTOR for a spin when it goes F2P, remember that the CGA features excellent Christian guilds (Saints of the Old Republic and Tribe of Judah's Called to the Light and Called from Darkness) for SWTOR!