What is Select? Bentley's version a Subscription?
Yessir and their version of a network license is called a "perpetual license"
Lets use a pizza analogy here (I know software and pizza are not equal)
Subscription is a great idea for LOCKING your customer into their software decision.
Think about it, you walk into my pizza place, and order a pizza.
Then I force you to subscribe (by making it appear cost effective) by making it sound like paying for your next pizza from me is a good deal. Because your next pizza is going to cost you more than this one if you don't.
Then you get the pizza, and well it just isn't that good.
So you leave thingking the next one must be better.
The good news for me is,I have your money for the next pizza wether you eat it or not.
I also have your money even if you don't like the pizza.
For you the customer, then next time you think about a pizza, you come to me.
Why? Well it isn't because the pizza is any good, it's because I already have your money
and you keep thinking its a good deal. Why because the salesmen and the marketing folks have you believing it is a good deal.
This is how it works, they have convinced you that it is a good deal. It isn't, given that in most instances companies do not install the new version they paid for. No matter how much you think you saved you didn't.
Worse because you have bought in to this model, you remove the market incentive to produce a better product.
And because they have you money already they do not care if the market hates the new product. Because they have your money, and you do not matter after that.
A 'fair' practice would be more or less along these lines:
The cost of the product is whatever it is.
A new version will only be released when new tools or increased functionality is added to the product, and the product will remain compatible with itself so that version compatibility is not an issue.
When a new version is released, new customers pay full price.
Now here's the fair part:
Current users that have contributed to product development through involvement with the BETA team, and or active feedback with development team. (Error reports, emails, etc.) they get the product at 25%. Because they have helped develop the new thing I am selling. This way I am paying them for testing and suffering through the new stuff.
Users that upgrade after one (1) year of ownership or less without helping on product development they get the product at 35%.
Users that upgrade after two years get the product at 40%
Users that upgrade after 4 years get the product at 70%.
Users that do not upgrade after 5 years, are telling you that your product has no compelling reason for them to upgrade. And then you know that you need to work on a better product. Not a new interface, or forced file format change to make them upgrade. Either your product does all that they need, or your new product does not meet their needs or expectations.
If users want or need support, that is a different fee.
If a user wants to be in an active update mode, where they get any and all new features and or functions the instant they pass beta (subscription), they then pay Full price for the initial version PLUS 15%, with 15% of the new price each year thereafter.
I think that if you 'do the math' the software company still makes money on this arrangement, and the customer gets a better product.
As it stands no one can not say that their ROI, of any autodesk product is 100% the first time they use it.
Now this statement isn't true for SINCPAK3D, or perhaps even the product you sell. However if you think about, subscription is extortion. Pay us now, or pay us more later, even IF the only reason you are upgrading is because WE changed the drawing format on you, and all our other customers. Doesn't sound fair at all.
I do not even subscribe to magazines for similar reasons. There are some issues that I either can't or do not read, and If I do not actual get some utility for my money (read the magazine) I did not save anything. And this is often the case with autodesk and bentley and the subscription sales pitch, users have the new product, they do not install that new product, often running 3 releases behind in implementation. This folks is not saving money, this is spending money hoping the new product wont cost you more later when and or if it's is stable enough to transition to and not lose productivity along the way.