[phrom]

A subscription model takes away the user's option to install the software they bought inside of a VM disconnected from the internet, where that software would likely remain runnable to the end of time, regardless of the software company's opinion about it.

Sure, such use might not be allowed by the Terms of Service, even for a one off purchase. But my point is simply that it is possible.

I personally think this makes subscription-based software a worse option than a one off purchase, off the bat. But there's not really a single answer to this. There are good and bad companies, there are good and bad SaaS, and reasonable people will disagree in which is which. If a SaaS looks like the best option for something, and the company looks nice, sure, I'll subscribe.