It would be interesting if there were an option to board the train and pay as you go (as it appears to be heading) with the ability to get off the train and retain access to the version of software you have at the time you get off the train. I would not mind subscribing for the chance to use the pay-as-you-go, updated latest and greatest with the idea that, when I realized the new features I was paying for monthly had demonstrated their merit, I could lock in a perpetual license at that state. I would pay an additional modest "transfer fee" to transfer from the pay-as-you-go to a locked in perpetual license at that state. If the value and security and convenience of locking in my version at the current state is worth money to me, then the "transfer fee" would be worth it. At least I would have the choice.
In this hypothetical, the pay-as-you-go would continue to advance as I used my perpetually licensed version and, if advances were made to the pay-as-you-go version that piqued my interest enough to try them, I could get back on the train and pay-as-you-go so I could try the newest, latest and greatest. If I thought it was worth it, I could continue to use the latest and greatest, pay-as-you-go, until, again, the features were sufficient for me - then I would transfer to a (modestly priced) perpetual version, locking in my access to the application at that current state. I could even stay on the pay-as-you-go plan while I paid each transfer fee to lock in my perpetual licenses. These two paths would not be mutually exclusive and could be simultaneous - the transfer fee for each locked in state would provide me with a static, known application I could use outside of the subscription, independent of the subscription, should I chose to leave the subscription. Likewise, I would not be required to stay on the train to be able to access my perpetually licensed products. Once I locked in and paid my transfer fee, I would be free and clear of the subscription at that state - forever if I chose.
This way I could establish my own custom perpetually-licensed application states at points in feature sets, hardware requirements, etc. that I chose. This way I would be more apt to get on the train, knowing that I could get off and, for a modest additional fee, lock in the progress I paid for. If my business model or finances changed, or my hardware was specialized to the point of needing a specific, older version, I could have some security in knowing that I could leave the pay-as-you-go train until conditions permitted me the chance to decide to get back on.
If Adobe did this, I think their customers would at least feel less betrayed and concerned about their impressions of having to "stay addicted" to the pay-as-you-go model. In essence, customers would be paying-as-they-go to beta test the continually advancing software and then pay a modest fee to lock in access to the application when they felt that the application was mature and stable enough for their workflow, equipment, business, etc.
I dunno, just a thought.
kirk