Well......
Maybe your specific 'RIPE' provider is a good guy, but as for 'RIPE' as a company, I've been so inundated with hacker attempts from IP addresses that all belong to 'RIPE' that I finally blocked all IP Addresses from them.
I can say for me personally, 'RIPE' is a company I want nothing to do with and I will continue to block them.
Just one mans opinion, and may not reflect the group.
Bill / KG6BAJ -----------------------------
My $DAYJOB company is a LIR with RIPE. An ASN registered with RIPE via a LIR is 50 EUR (~66 USD) per year. I could help with requesting the ASN from RIPE and I can also take care of the costs, if necessary I think it could be possible that a few national or regional HAM clubs provide some funds to cover the yearly costs.