Don't actually remember the tildes in the URL, but I do the decision if I should dare to download a 100k image of a comic page in the computer lab. Also remember that home internet access meant email and that I used an email <-> http gateway to surf the web from home.
Telephone access was metered. I'd dial in and sent a mail. Then immediatly logged out. Five minutes later I'd dial in to get the page as an email attachment.
Telephone cost per page (adjusted for inflation) ~ 40€Cent