I'm with you, but it's not quite there yet.
I'll declare the tide fully turned when you can subscribe to ESPN, fully, OTT. I can't believe this $5 a month doesn't include at least the main 2 channels.
The problem is the ESPN bundle (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and SECN) costs about $9/month to the cable company as part of the bundle. Yes, it is that expensive. (You can dramatically reduce your cable bill by going to Sling, Hulu, YouTube TV,... and still get the ESPN channels.)
If ESPN goes direct to consumers and is not bundled, they may have to charge $50/month to be revenue neutral. Here's the math, if the bundle unwinds, and 20% of consumers choose to purchase ESPN directly, they would need to charge 5x as much as they charge cable companies in the bundle to remain revenue neutral. Disney (ESPN) is in a dangerous position if the bundle breaks as they have committed huge money LT to a number of leagues and conferences.