New York State already has a major toll road (NY Thruway) and tolls to enter New York City. So do New Jersey and Connecticut, the other states you must drive through to enter New York City. The congestion pricing is a new charge on top of longstanding toll roads and bridge/tunnel tolls, so it feels like a new category and the start of something new, rather than being equated to "usage fees" as you state, at least in the minds of many drivers.

It's new yes, but the comment you are replying to asked how it is different. It's simply another toll.

The people's intense response - from supporters to opponents - plus the media coverage and political posturing, demonstrates that it's not "simply another toll"

With regular toll roads, if you don't want to pay the toll, you can drive on a different road instead and still get to the same place at the same time.

This is the same thing, except the different road is "the subway", or even the same road and "walking".

The same time? Why does anyone use the toll road?

With regular toll roads, you can choose to leave sooner and take a slower way to avoid the toll. With this, the toll is mandatory no matter which way you go.