Cause we're already paying for the internet, which is a service. We shouldn't have to pay extra for an additional function. This is why I sometimes wish I was back with T-mobile, but their service sucks. My 2 cents!
According to what some people said, they said that on your regular plan, you do not truly have unlimited data. It's really 5GB. If you hit 5GB in a month, Sprint will check your data consumption and if they have found that you are tethering and not paying the extra $30 a month for it, you will have your service terminated. It is in the fine print on their website and other places.
So what the $30 a month does is allows you to go over 5GB in a month and not be checked into. I agree it's kind of a waste, but the reason they do it is that Sprint is charged through taxes or something for all of the data that comes in and goes out of their network. So what they do is set limits on who can and cannot use the data and how much can be used. It is hard to hit 5GB in a month unless you are tethering or using torrents or something else that may be illegal or against their guidelines. I have only hit 3 and a half GBs in a month being the most I've ever used while being with them in a 1 and a half year span. I hate the extra price just as anyone else does, but, it's their network.
You can root your device as others suggested or you can use USB/Bluetooth tethering which can be downloaded from the Market. One is EasyTether and another is PDaNet. Both are free but will NOT allow you to access sites that have a "https" URL unless you pay their fee. Rooting your phone sometimes allows USB tethering for free. Rooting your phone also allows the use of some Market apps such as Barnacle and Wifi Tether to be used to make your phone into a Wifi hotspot.
As far as getting hotspot feature as a non-rooted Evo/Evo Shift phone, you will need to pay the $30 extra.
EDIT: To elaborate on the "https" URL sites...sites that require a "https" URL are typically ones like your bank's website, Facebook, MySpace, eBay, Amazon, and other places on the web. The "s" stands for security, so it is used in many places on the web to, supposedly, secure your connection to them, so that people cannot be able to see your password or login information when you type it online. It typically only appears on sites that have a login.
Tethering is against Sprint's guidelines, period. If you use it and do not pay their fees and let them know in some way, expect to have your account terminated. They do not condone anyone using Wifi Tether, Barnacle, PDaNet, EasyTether, or any other ones unless you pay. These apps are on the Google Market but only because Android covers many different carriers and some carriers don't mind if their users do tether.
