I have been using Cakewalk products for many years. I can't even remember what they called it back then, but, it was before Cake 7, and I feel as though I have always been a member. Cakewalk has always updated and fixed issues throughout the year following a release without any real obligation to do so, just as if I was in a membership. The only real difference in then and now is Cakewalk is saying in writing "Buy our product and you are a "member" of the family" which is how they treated me anyway. Pay up front and you are a member for a year automatically, just like it was before.