It seems that the market for Plugin Instruments and Effects has become quite saturated.
This is both good and bad....

The Good
 
It forces vendors to produce better products, to lower prices, and to have more sales (which we currently are observing)
This gives us greater variety, better options, and saves us money.  This can have the momentary appearance of
a "good" thing...BUT

The Bad

In having to lower prices to keep competitive, vendors cash flow diminishes.  This becomes
"The Snowball Effect"...as their income goes down, it forces employee layoffs, and makes it
more difficult to get upgrades and updates, as they no longer can afford to have the personnel
to keep up with the software (not always but usually).  So they have more sales and lower prices
which becomes a cycle.  (Waves seems to be experiencing this.  The sales at Waves over the past year
have been unprecedented compared to previous years)

I'm sure the "Subscription Model" is becoming more predominant to help alleviate some of this cash flow stress,
as it will show as a "monthly" cash flow, rather then relying on product sales and "Sales" for cash flow,
which is, at best, sporadic.

The Ugly

This is what forces companies out of business sadly.  It truly becomes "survival of the fittest".

So here's to hoping that the products get better...and the truly great ones are "Stayin' Alive...Stayin' Alive"

Just some "Software Thoughts" I thought I'd share...

The ugly is illegible UIs.
 
This is really a big subject. The simple answer is capitalism has, and always will, fail.

 
 
I am trying to focus on spending more time rehearsing than shopping.
 
I am learning that the few DAW improvements I have been hoping for aren't actually worth hoping for.
 
If the hypeware companies have to close the doors due to disinterest in perpetual promises I'll be ok with REAPER and a couple efx.
 
 
 
 

Guitarpima
The ugly is illegible UIs.
 
This is really a big subject. The simple answer is capitalism has, and always will, fail.

Agreed...and agreed!

mike_mccue
 
 
I am trying to focus on spending more time rehearsing than shopping.
 
I am learning that the few DAW improvements I have been hoping for aren't actually worth hoping for.
 
If the hypeware companies have to close the doors due to disinterest in perpetual promises I'll be ok with REAPER and a couple efx.

This also needs to be my focus...old habits die hard...LOL

I can tell you that with the right plugins Reaper is one heck of program...extreme low overhead 
and really gets the job done...

Interesting thoughts Larry.  In THEORY capitalism will deliver the best product to the market at the lowest price.  Whether or not that happens in actuality is another question entirely.  I guess what we could hope would be that lowered prices would result in increased sales and, therefore, increased, or at least, stable revenue.  But what should happen in theory doesn't always happen in reality does it (as per your note that Waves is having sales at an unprecedented rate)?
I think your assessment of "the Ugly" is probably pretty accurate.  Maybe we're entering a phase of "economic Darwinism".

Incidentally, it's great to see you back in the Deal forum!!

jude77
Interesting thoughts Larry.  In THEORY capitalism will deliver the best product to the market at the lowest price.  Whether or not that happens in actuality is another question entirely.  I guess what we could hope would be that lowered prices would result in increased sales and, therefore, increased, or at least, stable revenue.  But what should happen in theory doesn't always happen in reality does it (as per your note that Waves is having sales at an unprecedented rate)?
I think your assessment of "the Ugly" is probably pretty accurate.  Maybe we're entering a phase of "economic Darwinism".

Yes, if capitalism could exist outside of GREED, with everyone doing and receiving their fair share,
then it would be ideal.  So would socialism.  Unfortunately, once humans are injected into the picture
all that fades away...

And thanx for the "Welcome Back Kotter" 

jude77
Interesting thoughts Larry.  In THEORY capitalism will deliver the best product to the market at the lowest price.  Whether or not that happens in actuality is another question entirely.  I guess what we could hope would be that lowered prices would result in increased sales and, therefore, increased, or at least, stable revenue.  But what should happen in theory doesn't always happen in reality does it (as per your note that Waves is having sales at an unprecedented rate)?
I think your assessment of "the Ugly" is probably pretty accurate.  Maybe we're entering a phase of "economic Darwinism".

These days, finance seems to take the biggest cut out of any enterprise - which is why profit expectations way outpace labor costs.

For a few dollars more.