Channel bundles start with media companies like Viacom, FOX, Disney, Discovery, etc., that sell the channels they own as a bundle to cable/sat providers.
Correct. Basically, ala carte type service will never be available unless the media companies sell ala carte to the providers. If Dish can only get Comedy Central if bundled with Nickelodeon, that will be how it's presented to the customer.
As for consumers go, a lot more thought and discussion has gone into this thread than most consumers will put forth. The reason things pop up at a $6-10 price point is because it works as a marketing technique. You have two kids and you won't pay $5/kid/month to give them Disney? Hey, not all Disney brands are child-centric either so its even more of a bargain! (sarcasm intended) The average consumer, in my opinion, won't notice the small increase until months later when they're trying to figure out why they had less spending money than last year only to find that they're spending $150/month on "small monthly fee" services.
One last thought: I can very much see Disney and others coming back to Netflix in limited form. Just like how movies came to TV only after they were on cable, and that was after they were on pay-per-view, and that was after they were available for rental, and that was after they were available to purchase. You'll see ads for "Want to see Pirates of the Caribbean 14? Its only on Disney Streaming!" Two years later, they'll unload it to the other providers.