I have similar feelings about this as a user. Recently though, I am starting to think that this is a better idea than I want it to be. People with low aversion to providing credit card information are probably more likely to become paying customers if the product is any good. At small scale, avoiding most tire-kickers is might easily be worth a few conversions in the steeper part of the sigmoid curve.

> Why not open source it, and offer paid certificates ?

Why can't programmers just code for a living, instead of inventing and testing new business models?

Im unsure about why you ask me that question, and its not always easy to show restraint to argument bait.

So look, I am simply one kind of client - i enjoy buying things i know i want. I buy certificates, and software as one thing, using a single payment, if i choose to. I dont like “cancel if you like” trials, or running subs.

lets not turn this into what it isnt.

Selling things for a fixed price Is an established model. Coders get paid in any form they choose to, by those who want the service. I simply told the OP what model works for people like me, and in not alone here. OP is infact under no obligation to listen to me.

i saw his product, said its good, and gave him my take on it.

You are welcome to yours.

Yeah I was intrigued to just try a demo to get an idea of what it was about but closed it after I realized I would have to sign up for something.