As someone who doesn't live in one of the handful of metropoles that cater to every niche interest, if there's one thing that surely isn't one of the advantages of independent cinema it's availability. I can't count the number of times I was interest in a small film or documentary only to be disappointed by a website that presents me with a list of global screenings I could however count much more easily: On one hand.
I can understand that streaming isn't the filmmakers ideal choice, but unless we're talking about big budget blockbusters I see no point in relying on theatres in this day and age. It's a needless and artificial scarcity and limits the potential audience. At least let me buy the film.
How is that gaming the system at all?
People sign up for just a month. Don't cancel immediately after watching the movie they want, because they want to use the paid month in full. After two/three weeks the brain phases out the expiration date and the subscription renews.
"But reminders!" the reader would complain so let me preempt that: not many person actually set reminders for this kind of stuff - part because 'it's only a month' part because not everyone is as phone dependent as techhies and mbas types. For internet and social? Sure. For reminding every little detail in life? Hardly. Especially since outside apple setting a reminder is still a subpar experience.
Thus said watching a movie on a laptop screen in your apartment is hardly the same as going to a proper cinema.
A Chromecast is 35€.
A 7 year old laptop is perfectly capable of streaming and a HDMI cable to plug your laptop into your existing tv is 10€.
I agree it is still reasonable but I feel that a limited release would be better as a subscription for a single film is pretty dumb IMO.