The annual fee was in place long before RTA outsourced the process to myPlates.
Yes for custom plates but not if you wanted to choose your own ABC-123 plates; it was a one off fee.
Previously when you got new plates, you could choose from the first three off the shelf; now it's the first plate they touch, no compromise unless you want to pay a yearly fee.
I was lucky to get my own ABC-123 combo before they took over and I don't have to pay every year, apparently if I have an accident and my plates get damaged, stolen, etc.; if I want my same combo in new plates I will have to pay the exorbitant replacement fee (previously around $20 for just the plate) plus a yearly fee to keep my combo.
s