soens
 
Then the oufit that "SOLD" me the songs is bought out by another outfit that nolonger has me registered to play those songs even though I PAID 99¢ each for them.
 
So now I have 100's of songs I can nolonger play even though I PAID 99¢ each for them.
 
What prevents me from concluding the system is a complete rip off?

That is the primary objection to the use of digital rights management that depends on linking the rights key to anything that is not under the complete control of the "buyer." It is not just an issue with music, it also applies to software that must phone home to reinstall or move to a new computer, and in a slightly different version to physical products with "lifetime" support or warranties. Even given the most solemn promise that you will always be able to use what you paid for via a perpetual license, using DRM makes that actually possible only if the life and performance of the counterparty is somehow guaranteed to be perpetual as well. In effect, you only rent the product, and when the lessor is no longer financially viable, the songs are no longer usable. The average lifespan of a Fortune 500 company is only 15 years, and I expect the average internet company dies a lot younger. 
 
The clear advantage to subscription streaming is that it is abundantly clear going in that nothing ever belongs to you. On the other hand people seem unwilling to pay a reasonable price to rent what they falsely believe they can buy. 
 
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/10/when-amazon-dies/409387/
 

I have to admit I buy what I can as cheap as poss off ebay... nobody gets my money! I love cd's the artists get nothing...