Being affiliated with a university or large tech company also gives you access to the literature locked behind those paywalls. Lack of access makes it really hard to publish a paper. A paper should describe how the work fits into previous work in the field and what's new about it. For example, if you publish on X it might turn out that someone else published on that topic two years previous, but in a journal you can't access.
In one project I worked on, I developed a new algorithm. Or so I thought. Then I went to the chemistry library about an hour away to read the papers they have on the shelves, available at no cost. Turns out the basic approach was done in the 1970s! Luckily, further reading showed how what I did really was something new.
In another project, I managed to dig up another paper from the 1970s which solved a problem I had been working on for a couple of years.
I am self-employed, and don't have the $30/paper just to find out that it's worthless for what I'm doing.
It also gives you cheaper rates for conferences. As a "commercial" attendee, I pay a lot more than academics, even though I make less than most academics.
In many cases it also gives you physical access to those world experts, who may visit your institution because of your advisor.
In one project I worked on, I developed a new algorithm. Or so I thought. Then I went to the chemistry library about an hour away to read the papers they have on the shelves, available at no cost. Turns out the basic approach was done in the 1970s! Luckily, further reading showed how what I did really was something new.
In another project, I managed to dig up another paper from the 1970s which solved a problem I had been working on for a couple of years.
I am self-employed, and don't have the $30/paper just to find out that it's worthless for what I'm doing.
It also gives you cheaper rates for conferences. As a "commercial" attendee, I pay a lot more than academics, even though I make less than most academics.
In many cases it also gives you physical access to those world experts, who may visit your institution because of your advisor.