Chipp, I think our opinions are very close actually. I do not see either why there shouldnt be a sidegrade from comp to inf, not only from the consumers pov but from e-on's. If they want to do better deals for larger companies they can offer discounts for quantity or even just for being a commercial company.  I'm just comparing what I, an ordinary customer, could get. I could upgrade to inf for $400.  and to comp for $100. Why wouldnt they want me to pay them the $300 differnce (or even $350) to get the sidegrade when I want to?
One of my main points is that it is their business model even now, you get what you can/want and then you go up the ladder to better versions.Just look how they push Pioneer to get people to start the climb. So why doesnt their logic apply to the top of the range?
I dont know much about photoshop's history - if it was never their concept or if they declared they are stopping it - I have nothing against them. e-on hasnt stopped. They are just  inconsistent in applying their overall policy.
I just found out to my very big surprise that it does NOT cost more to buy the bottom version (esprit) and gradually work up to complete compared to buying complete directly. At least for the download version. Esprit, pro and complete cost $200,400,600 respectively (minus 1dollar). upgrading one level is $200 and esprit to complete is $400.  I dont know why people keep claiming it is more expensive to do it in stages. So - by the same logic I should only pay $300 for complete->infinite.
I was willing to pay a bit more. But certainly not $500...

"I paint that which comes from the imagination or from dreams, or from an unconscious drive. I photograph the things that I do not wish to paint, the things which already have an existence."
Man Ray, modernist painter
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