In delayed open access, the embargo separates the most recent period, for which a subscription is needed, from an older period, where a subscription is not needed and anyone may access the article.

Habib Borjian, "Esfara", in Encyclopaedia Iranica, Columbia University (enter keyword "Esfara" in search field to access the article).

This meant that most Internet users in Great Britain could no longer access the article.

(Subscribers can access the full article.)

On the Times site, I needed to do some on-the-spot research (theater, a hard-to-find review) and was able to instantly access the article and find others.

(Subscribers can access the entire article online.)

I can't access the article today.

(Subscribers can access the entire article; everyone else can buy access to this issue online.)

Subscribers can access the whole article.

I think it's asking too much of people to do what you suggest, that is, when you have accessed the article, to look first at the top of the page and interpret what is there.