WhatsApp has fiercely defended its status as a free, no-nonsense online messaging app for over a decade, but a new subscription tier is muddying the waters.  Meta is rolling out WhatsApp Plus, a paid subscription model, to a limited number of iPhone users using the latest version of the App Store.  WABetaInfo So, what does WhatsApp Plus actually offer? The list of benefits included as part of the WhatsApp Plus subscription sounds more like a cosmetic buffet than something useful. First, subscribers get 18 accent colors to replace the app’s signature green theme.  Then, there are 14 alternative home-screen icons to choose from.…