"Beginning with the Beta version of IntelliJ IDEA 2024.1, AI Assistant has been unbundled and is now available as a separate plugin."
This was a mayor complaint about a month ago:https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39238666
This was a mayor complaint about a month ago:https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39238666
You get a perpetual license for the version you bought at that point in time as a fall back if you don't renew a subscription which frankly is much more than most offer.
If you're wanting a perpetual license that includes all future updates across all versions then I am afraid that doesn't exist pretty much anywhere. Fruity Loops is the only software I know that is still developed heavily and gets updates in this way.
Also, I can think of a few utility programs like Alfred[1] and BetterTouchTool[2] that offer lifetime upgrades at additional cost.
Finally, consumer Windows appears to have more or less adopted this model, subsidized by a steady stream of volume and OEM license sales.
I personally would think that something like "You purchase a year of versions, so final one you would be able to upgrade to - would be your perpetual subscription"