First time on the forum here. I've been a user for more than one year and I LOVED all Substance products! I had the option to continue my subscription in November, but due to financial reasons decided to just buy a perpetual license. I think I'm kinda lucky to have done it before this sad news.
The thing is, sometimes monopolies buy software (with the hope) to make money, but other times they buy software only to keep it from growing exponentially, because it can threaten to disrupt the market. Monopolies don't want other potential monopolies to start growing. Monopolies see where a software grows too much in popularity and want to curb down the line a bit, otherwise, this is threatening the monopolies' peace and and quiet in the future.
I don't use Adobe products any more, due to the subscription model. In the long run users do pay more compared to just buying the software license once and for all, and then paying some only for updates. Also, subscription models don't encourage innovation for the simple reason that users pay anyway with or without new features, just to use it. But if users pay only for updates, then this stimulates the company to innovate. So yes, subscription models are the ultimate epitome of corporate greed and have nothing to do with innovation. There's no incentive to innovate. Why? Users pay you every month regardless... Of course Adobe and Autodesk will become lazy!!
I'm very disappointed today by this news! I am a Blender user and am so relieved to know that as an open source it can't be bought! Same as Linux! I will root even harder for Blender to implement texture making in it. I will still use my Substance products since I already bought perpetual license for them. But will be ready to jump ship if Adobe threatens me to start paying for what I already own and had paid for.