Interesting change, I do wonder if the Mac apps will follow suit.
Mind you, I'm still running Final Cut for video making. Hope I don't have to bail on that too. I'll keep running the version I have, but much like I don't use Adobe at all, I won't run such a program if I have to rent it.
Exception, XCode :D most certainly have to pay yearly for that! But I view it as paying for authorization as an Apple dev, not so much as 'for the app itself'.
I think it's Mandela Effect. I don't know of any other words that can have the letters 'Xc' in sequence in a capitalized word, so my brain must just reject the idea even though I've literally seen it over and over right in front of my eyes.
It's a bit like paying for access to Apple's Gatekeeper system? Without their involvement, I can't circumvent their code signing systems, so in some ways it seems to me like it's a given that if I code for their platform, I'm expected to pay for access to their security system that checks my submissions for malware. I could code stuff purely on the Unix layer to run in Terminal or something like that, but then I would clearly be an outsider with no association with Apple's 'walled garden'. The cost of entry to being considered inside the 'walled garden' and safe to use, is not just willingness to have my code audited and code-signed if it's safe to run, it's also paying for engagement with those systems.
I feel like if Apple both did that and prohibited use of any other dev software, it would flip something for me and I would be adamantly against their practice. Since it's for access to a class of developer that's meant to be treated as privileged and Apple-approved, it doesn't bug me to pay $100 a year. I would be distressed if I had to cough up $1000, and if it was $10,000 a year I might not be able to continue the practice.
That said, if a paid subscription meant that Logic (macOS) got more love and more frequent updates, I’d happily pay for it.
The last release with a meaningful core update was 10.5 (May 2020) - the one that introduced Live Loops, major new devices like the new sampler, etc.
If it was a regular company selling its software, 10.5 would have been a paid update/major new version, and 10.6 and 10.7 would have been point updates.
People do care about it and it's why Logic and Pro Tools are the only game in town for people who aren't making EDM.
It's not necessarily a bad playback platform, but neither is an Xbox with 5.1 surround hooked up. Apple's commitment to surround sound is far from revolutionary.
So I am a bit skeptical that your prediction is accurate. But I can't tell the future and I don't know folks at Apple so maybe you know something I don't.
FWIW, I’m in your boat too. Logic is a PERFECT DAW for me the way it is. I would be so sad to have to switch to Reaper or something, and have to go hunt for plugins..
Logic is the only thing tying me to the Mac, so I guess that’s a plus.
On one hand, I do enough work that the price of Abelton (which is what I'd move to if that happened) isn't a big deal so unless there simply is no non-subscription tool I can use I'll be okay.
However, I remain hopeful. It's a 30 year old piece of software and my understanding of Apple's model for it is to drive hardware sales seems reasonable to me.
That said, a dual pricing model can get unstuck depending on the future development path of the app. Does the perpetual license include the next major version? What is the price of a major version upgrade? How does that compare to the value of the subscription price?
I don't know about Final Cut, but I do know lots of Logic users in the media composing world. Some will keep using it no matter what but plenty will leave for Cubase or Studio One if Apple forces a subscription on them. And Logic is probably the reason they buy Macs for producing music...
It would be a terrible move by Apple.