Is paying for a font license for something that's for "personal use" normal?

I don't do a lot of web development work, but my understanding is if you used Futura PT via Adobe Fonts' embedding code you should be in the clear. If you uploaded web font versions of Futura PT for use on a web site and didn't have a license for those fonts then it would be sort of understandable why Paratype would want you to buy a license. On the other hand I don't know why they would personally care about certain fonts being used on an individual's portfolio web site. It seems like "small potatoes" to me. My guess is the company has some kind of automated software that sniffs across the web looking for instances where its fonts are being used and then automatically starts sending out emails when records don't match.

In response to the question in the subject line "is paying for a font license for something that's for personal use normal" -the answer would be yes -if you're someone that really likes fonts. Commercially sold fonts (such as Futura PT) are just commercially sold fonts. They're going to cost money regardless of how they're used. I've paid for a decent number of fonts out of my own pocket because I am a font nerd. Some type families get pretty expensive; the trick is buying good ones when they're heavily discounted (often when they're first released).

Some fonts are offered up with mixed licensing -free for personal use, but cost money for commercial purposes. Most of those kinds of fonts are hosted at sites like DaFont. Google Fonts and Font Squirrel are good sources for fonts that are free for both personal and commercial purposes.

Talk to a lawyer. But where did you download this font from?

I want to add that the only thing I've done so far is that I've changing the font to something that isn't using that font anymore & they have provided a link that I openend in a private window to check what it was.