Actually 3D Coat lost me as a new customer -- literally, due to their really obnoxious protection scheme. The software companies have every right to impose any protection scheme, and as long as I have the right to refuse purchase, my argument is part of that democratic marketplace - not one of principle.

About 3 - 4 years from now (with present usage/activation trends), about half the present Vue users on this forum will probably no longer be involved with the leading-edge versions of this software, and they will mostly be using earlier versions. My earlier point was: the more controlled activation process is likely a prelude to subscription software. One may not own the software code, but one does own the use of that code.

I would certainly hate to see the same attitude of software protection applied to, let's say, the automotive industry; "...well sir, you need to buy 2 versions of this car if transporting more than one person at a time." Or, "...our warranty lasts until you start the car -- and by the way, we have several known bugs that will keep you in a state of random frustration, but we will try and fix those bugs -- or at least make sure those bugs are fixed for the next model year"...not forgetting the "warranty period" -- of course!

Eon hasn't really been that bad, but I am concerned about the future of this pretty fine, and unique software.

Questioning attitude is a virtue, and the smallest and greatest bad events in human history could have been mostly mitigated if independent, critical thinking was one of humanities most widespread attributes.