Because of that license scheme, I bought Poser 11 twice.

I'm using Poser since buying a physical copy of Poser 4 in 2000, and had upgraded to Poser 11 from PP-2014 a few years ago, but noticed that some of the "NEW AND IMPROVED" features had messed up the JCM's of my custom figures.

(Turns out it was the Master Synch. Fortunately I was able to turn it off eventually)

So I kept on using PP-2014 for a few years while Poser 11 sat dormant on my old machine collecting dust.

*

Then I got a new machine, and I wanted to give Poser 11 another chance, but I was unable to activate my copy as Smith Micro had the activation server already shut off.

In order to download a new copy from Bondware, they wanted purchase info I couldn't retrieve anymore. (I always use throwaway email adresses when I do online purchases to protect my main email from spam)

Long story short, instead of jumping through hoops while dealing with customer service, I just bought the da*m thing again.

*

Poser 11 does have a few advantages over PP-2014 (MUCH better preview, "Fit to Morph" joint center functionality), so I'm not too unhappy with my (double) purchase.

It has some disatvantages, though, like spoiling my Lo Rez Vicky 2 mesh or my "poserized" Genesis 1 figures, but so far I was able to find workarounds. Same with the Master Synch issue, as I already mentioned.

*

I admit I'm very unhappy about the even stricter phoning home "functionality", though.

Not unhappy enough to skip Poser altogether and to defect to Studio or Blender, as that would mean abandoning 22yrs of hard work trying to improve Poser figures.

But unhappy enough to boycott Poser 12 and subsequent  issues for the time being unless there would be a really major incentive for me to upgrade again.

*

I also made sure to have a copy of Poser 11 as a last ditch backup that will keep on working regardless wether Poser ever changes hands again or more likely turned into abandonware due to a lack of interrest.

You know: "Fool me once..."

;-)