I do think subscription-based creates better quality software
Maybe compared to pay-once. But the pay-for-every-major-version model that used to be common also provides an incentive to improve, while avoiding redesign churn: the amount of sales you get is directly correlated to how much better your new version is. Meanwhile with subscriptions you mainly have to update the design to attract new customers, your old customers are stuck paying unless you become worse than your competitors.
The app store is full of programs that haven't been updated in several years but still attract subscriptions until they get too buggy. Eg most popular ebook readers (eg kybook 3 still costs £15/year).
Comments
Maybe compared to pay-once. But the pay-for-every-major-version model that used to be common also provides an incentive to improve, while avoiding redesign churn: the amount of sales you get is directly correlated to how much better your new version is. Meanwhile with subscriptions you mainly have to update the design to attract new customers, your old customers are stuck paying unless you become worse than your competitors.
The app store is full of programs that haven't been updated in several years but still attract subscriptions until they get too buggy. Eg most popular ebook readers (eg kybook 3 still costs £15/year).