In my case (small business) we have months of very low activity. Now if I let my subscription lapse then I lose access to the software and it becomes more expensive since I wouldn't have the existing customer discount anymore (presumably).
I would easily pay double what I'm paying now _but_ on the existing scheme where I can upgrade when I want to, not when I'm forced to.
Your profit margins prohibit you from purchasing new licenses at $120/yr (it's a business expense, so it's even cheaper).
Your business model seems more suspect than anything to do with Jetbrains.
> I would easily pay double what I'm paying now _but_ on the existing scheme where I can upgrade when I want to...
If he upgrades every other year, then JetBrains's revenue per year works out to be the exactly the same as in their subscription model. In the subscription model, if he has a down month around about the time when his JB subscription payment is due, he loses access to his tools. This could kill his business, which would -in turn- shut off the money faucet to JB.
> (it's a business expense, so it's even cheaper)
Does JetBrains have a business license that's cheaper than $120/year? If they don't, then $120/year is still $120/year, whether or not a business is spending the money.
> Your business model seems more suspect...
Do you run a business? Do you know anyone who does? There are good months and bad months; cash flow is almost never steady. Indeed, it is likely this very fact that is causing the JB people to switch to the subscription (AKA "Let's get a guaranteed revenue stream!") model of billing.
> I think (for me anyway) the problem isn't the price at all. It's the fact that if you let your subscription lapse you CANNOT use the product.
(emphasis mine)
[0] Indeed, he appears to have failed to read and/or comprehend the first two sentences in pixard's comment.
I do care about the difference between license and have it to use indefinitely and continually having to pay to use the product.
Notice how your comparison isn't apples to apples, because the one price is in dollars and the other is in dollar years.
If you struggle with Netbeans or Eclipse for an hour or two with something IntelliJ does easily, you've already paid for your license.
I don't understand arguing about peanuts; pay it the trivial increase and get on with the show of making real money. No wonder why so many startups fail.