My experience with Adobe Photoshop CC, which is also a subscription based software package, is that there is no big hassle or "vulnerability" to my access. That said, I use Photoshop for personal recreation, not business. It might change my frame of mind, if I was to risk losing access to my drawings needed for work, if/whenever I cannot validate my account access (whether the problem is at my end or theirs the result is the same). Have you been on Autodesk's subscription Buggar? What is your experience with it?
I am reading that the subscription business model is more advantageous to the seller than the buyer. It is advantageous to the buyer only when the seller offers exceptional services.
I don't think any significant number of people will 'leave' Autodesk. The reasons most companies use AutoCAD dwarf any petty problems with contract clauses in buying/subscribing-to software. If one hasn't switched to an alternative already, I doubt this will be what makes one leave. When I was still working in AutoCAD-based businesses, there may've been 1 or 2 companies at most, that I ever worked with, who were not on subscription. They were also massive pains in the ass, because they would always reply back after a week "please save down to R12/2000 and resend" which jeopardized the content.
The vast, vast majority of companies I worked with were on subscription and stayed up to date on installations every 2-3 years at least, some were right there every year. Much less of a hassle if you work with a lot of other companies' CAD data.
Like most issues with AutoCAD over the last 15+ years I've been paying attention... it'll cause whining and complaining, and nothing will change. Just go with the flow.
Yeah, we're getting away from "I can use it because its mine - I paid for it" (yes, you PAID for the use of the LICENSE, so you OWNed the right to use it for the period of the license) to I'm willing to accept the requirement for ongoing repeated asking for permission, as long as I'm willing to accept forced version upgrades, assuming those are always top-notch and trouble free. Remember r-9, r-13, r-2013? Going hat-in-hand and asking if I can "have more sir ... ?" rubs me the wrong way, but giving up our right to use something we've paid for along with upgrading when WE want to or feel its appropriate is over. Look at what MS is doing with Win-10 ! Yes you can "choose" to upgrade - for now, but soon you will be forced to upgrade, and will be REQUIRED to install EVERY update. There are some PRIVACY (read NSA anyone ?) issues with the forced updates, being brought up on some of the tech blogs that concern me too. Also, I just got word that new processors from Intel are being required to run only Win-10. SO- Win-7 or 8 and your current LEGAL ACAD (classic license) on a new platform anyone ? Not without PERMISSION !
I've found a couple of work-alikes that are VERY strong, and use my favorite for my personal clients, and use any ACAD they have at any client's office. Oh well.
I'm in a subscription plan for AutoCad LT for two years now and it has been mostly trouble free (I had a few issues with the license when upgrading to version 2016 but these were fixed with the Autodesk tech support). However, when compared with other CAD packages that can do much more (BricsCad, for example, has full 3D modelling and programming and is very stable and compatible with older dwg versions) AutoCad is certainly waaaaaay overpriced. I'll probably switch to BricsCad at the end of the year if the trial version performs well enough in a real life project.
I have but a few years between me and almost full retirement. I will stick with my permanent license/subscription that I have had for 15 years. Been an AutoCAD user since 1985 and have a good grasp of what it can do for my needs, and I consider it just another pricey tool needed to do my thing. Hopefully when I do retire I can transfer my license to a younger engineer who can find an advantage to having the permanent license/subscription (if there is one at that time).
From an editorial perspective, I think Autodesk abandoned its resellers the day they first put AutoCAD LT into the hands of retailers like PC Connection & CDW.
The software industry is evolving to what will become a Pay-per-use model via internet which I do not like. The endless cycle of better hardware pushing better software which in turn requires better hardware really makes it difficult for the user to stay current. While I have found some of AutoCAD's newer capabilities to be an advantage to what I do, I truly despise being forced to upgrade my hardware to accommodate newer versions.
But then, I'm a becoming a crotchety old fart who is becoming more and more resistant to change.
