Mullvad doesn't try and lock you in with any auto-renewal shenanigans and was the second service that I know of to offer payment via xmr.
The first was ivpn but their server speeds were trash.
That is not a normal interaction anywhere that I've been in the States and not in Chicago. Despite what the press says Chicago is a very beautiful and relatively safe city. The people tend to be civil.
Is there a more recent guide that you'd recommend?