With version payments, you can even keep the version in use and stick with the current system. Then later, pay again in the future when you also update all the hardware, the system and the programs used. Just as if you stop using the program for a while, you can read and access the data with the latest paid version, and you just cannot update to subsequent ones.
That reasoning I like and can appreciate.
It appears that, so far, the overall consensus is "paid for Major version updates".
I will keep this survey going until Conor deems it no longer useful.
I would much rather be able to buy a new version with updates every year. Renting would not be an option for me. Neither with Microsoft, nor any other company.
I will not continue if it moves to subscription model. I am willing to pay for major new releases if the features are important to me. I actually prefer a crowd funded option. I tried to vote but could not.
I'm concerned about bug fixes that have been reported for along time. I'd like to see progress in that before committing to paying for a new version.