My wife uses Thunderbird on Windows 11 for her e-mail.  She uses the free AOL mail.  For decades.  Today, it stopped allowing outgoing mail.  She called AOL help line.  Some one using a script who didn't really understand whats going on.  After she exhausted her script she started a hard sell for a paid plan.  It appears to be only $4.99 a month.  I'm unclear if subscribing, 3rd party e-mail clients  are supported.  The $4.99 paid plan, 2-step verification with a 6 digit code in a text message, or an app password.  Does anyone have experience with any of these?

TIA, Jeffrey