Guitarpima, I'm going to ask you man to man to just let it go. It's not because I necessarily agree with one or the other. I just don't want a timely topic to be shutdown due to an unwinnable argument. I am slowlyb learning my lesson when it comes to that. Both of your bbc.co opinions have merit but this isn't the place.

Once conversations dip that point where popular political phrases like "sheeple","Faux news", "Libtards" and other silly variations of actual names comes into play any hope of a rational discussion just went bye bye lol

You forgot "DemocRATS and ReTHUGlicans" 

Craig, I can imagine how awesome the subscription model is for large companies since many of them were already used to working on that model with companies like Microsoft already.    Maybe all it would take to make the subscription model more feasible is better value.  As it stands you can get one product like Photoshop for 9.99/mth or lots for 49.99/mth.   The theoretical value is that you get so many programs.  In a large company very few people use more than a few of those programs.  The editor is likely to use Premiere, After Effects, Photoshop and possibly Audition.  Programs like Illustrator are typically opened up only if an asset used in editing needs to be adjusted.  In larger companies the guy doing the editing is not likely to be doing sound, designing titles or motion graphics either.  The model reminds me of buying s bunch of premium channels vs getting Netflix.  Yes, cable premium offers more box office hits , but it also offers A LOT more crap too and you are forced to pay for a lot of things you don't want.  netflix has crap too but at least you are paying a 8.99 vs hundreds for premium cable. One can find enough quality material on Netflix to justify the modest cost. 

sharke.. wow, i don't think I have seen ReTHUGlicans yer and I live in hippie central

I can understand why software companies would go the subscribe route but it wouldn't suit me. I often have manic work projects pop up where I have to put out all kinds of fires and that sometimes means I have no free time what so ever for 2,3, 4 weeks at a time.

When I look at steam the new big thing is free to play. Will this come to music software I wonder? Ps I like Megyn Kelly :)

backwoods
I can understand why software companies would go the subscribe route but it wouldn't suit me. I often have manic work projects pop up where I have to put out all kinds of fires and that sometimes means I have no free time what so ever for 2,3, 4 weeks at a time.

 
But this just underscores what I said about having choices and owning/controlling what you buy. If you want, you should be able to choose when to apply updates. Again, let me emphasize what I see as a dichotomy between a model that works for large companies, and a model that would work (assuming such a thing is possible) for individuals and small businesses. The two have different needs and I doubt there could be a "one size fits all" way to handle this. I'm sure better minds than mine are working on it, though.

I'm still back to my original point. They're doing to stop theft. My only thing is, if the software continues to work up to the version you cancel your subscription, then it's ok. If it stops working, up to the version you cancel, then it's not ok.

I think that the reason there has been a huge explosion in the recording software market is because it is finally affordable to the common man. The common man has a limited amount of expendable cash. If everything goes to subscription, he will have to make choices as to what he can afford to subscribe to wth that expendable cash. Eventually, I see that causing a decline in business for companies that can't hold that subscribers business.

And then there is Capitalism, some one will come along with a no subscription product that is almost as good and take a big chunk of the market.

"But this just underscores what I said about having choices and owning/controlling what you buy. If you want, you should be able to choose when to apply updates. Again, let me emphasize what I see as a dichotomy between a model that works for large companies, and a model that would work (assuming such a thing is possible) for individuals and small businesses."
 
This has been the Cakewalk business model all along!
I have ALWAYS stressed "follow the upgrade path".
Substitute "subscription" for "upgrade".
ProAudio 6 to 7 to 8 (9 finally became a "mature" platform)
Then Sonar 1 to 2 to...
8.5.3 again a pretty "mature" platform; 64 bit, lots of bells and whistles.
And now the X group.
Sit out a version, if you like.
BUT, if you do, you risk further development coming to a screeching halt.
Follow the upgrade path!
I use some pretty expensive embroidery software.
If the dongle goes sideways, I buy a new license.
$1500 invested in an upgrade (an "upgrade" not a new license; Win7 only) that is a total mess!
NO backwards compatibility.
If I open/save a project in this version, it will never open in the old versions again.
I'm running the "older" version on an XP machine, because it works flawlessly, I can save in "earlier" formats.
1500 bucks, I opened the software, signed the EULA; I'm f'ed!
Hopefully Cake will not go to dongle protection, and surely never require the user be internet connected to open the software.
Just my nickel 98...
Tom