Why would they be free? Before the ATM we had to go to the bank Friday afternoon or Saturday morning (9-12 only) to get money after pay day. If you couldn't wait in the big-ass line, or if you just had something else to do, then you just didn't have any money! It was ridiculous! The ATM brought revolutionary convenience. You could get twenty bucks at 11pm if you wanted to.
I actually almost never use ATMs, anymore (I use Apple Pay, as much as possible, and plastic, for the rare times it is not accepted). I've had the same five-dollar bill in my wallet for a month. The place that I tended to use ATMs, was when I went to Tokyo, and they are definitely not free, there.
