The price hike was because they've never put up the price since Live was launched however many years ago that was. There's a lot of "probably" in that article and if anything it highlights the hilarious change of tack from wanting to charge a subscription to saying there's no way they'd ever charge one (Obviously realising that all the COD players would just play something else if they tried charging for the pleasure).
I wouldn't believe too many crazy internet conspiracy theories if I were you.
There's nowhere I can't reach.