Or people don't want to have to continuously pay to have access to some latest version, and prefer to update when they feel like it and need some new feature, not always.
Producers and video editors especially hate to have to upgrade.
As for subscriptions, they have made the total yearly cost for getting a product much higher in many cases (doubled it in the case of some software), and made you lose your software any time you have to prioritize something else over its payment, like a medical emergency...
These people are not the target group for subscriptions, nor are they the majority. For large swatches of potential customers there are only two options that they accept: 1) Free or pirated 2) Low monthly value subscription.
The iPad app will only be available with a subscription.
This majority which does not prefer subscriptions do not have the option for "high cost one-time purchase".
They also factor in heavily the securing of recurring income to impress their shareholders.
The needs or desires of customers are never considered. Just whether enough of them suckers would yield to a subscription model.
If you think somebody is a sucker for getting software as a subscription, then you are very unimaginative as to what are the needs and wants of other people. Many people are going to think it's great. Those who hate it can still buy Logic for their laptop for $200 something.
Yes, nobody is threatened with death if they don't comply. I'll give you that.
For many pro users, with project files in that software, compatible hardware, accustomed to workflows, a studio setup based on it, etc, "just go to other software or use Garageband which is free" is as good as forcing.
That's how "rent-to-own" furniture works too. It exploits poor people for whom the price tag seems prohibitive but the monthly payments look deceptively cheap.
Maybe that's a factor, and in this particular case a reasonably large one, but I'd guess it's because subscription revenue is the holy grail for modern software. People end up spending way, way more than they would have, often forgetting about the subscription and paying for it when they don't even use it, and the revenue is predictable and stable. There aren't any downsides for the company, and the question of ethics is irrelevant to them
You mean like with a credit card?