The problem with eating the cost early on is that it's a form of lying. You're giving users a false sense of reality. Maybe they'll understand when you stop doing that, but most people outside of the few people on Nostr will probably feel like you're taking something from them. And they'll kind of be right because you hid the cost from them.

I think the best play is to be honest with cost. People may not like it, but you'll probably only hurt yourself if you can't carry the cost forever.