They're obviously going after the business/pro market, because that is where the (consistent) money is. That is where companies depend on their software, and so are in effect locked in.
The price at the moment would probably not be a problem, and indeed I heard that paying by subscription can be written of immediately for Tax, but buying the software could only be written off over time as it depreciated. That was someone talking about American Tax, and I don't know whether it is the same here. :shrug:
Apparently if you use more than 2.5 of their programs it works out better to subscribe. Most Photographers would use Photoshop and maybe Lightroom and not much else, so it may not work out better. :shrug:
They have now got to get the balance of raising prices over time with continuous new features, but unless they become too greedy, they have their solid paying userbase. Business's will be very reluctant to change if they don't get out know imho.
Now that they are seeming to move away from the average consumer, how they grow in any meaningful way is difficult to see once all the people who have decided not to subscribe don't. :shrug: For a lot of people what is new on offer in Photosop CC may not be tempting to a lot of current CS* users. They will have to make Elements more attractive, without being too close to Photoshop. They will probably raise the price as they do it too.
I can't see schools going for the CC option. :shake: Buying is very different to subscribing. And software updates could be problematic, as the schools I've been in recently have the internet access locked down quite tight. One school said even putting Picasa on their computers was a no no :shake: for some reason to do with internet access. They had CS5 on the computers, but I had to ask for them to get updated because they hadn't been updated for the last update of ACR for CS5.
:bonk:
I can see the benefits of the subscription model if you are a user of multiple Adobe programs, but it always pops into my head, what happens when you stop paying? :shrug: Depending on the type of work, and how you save it, you could be left with files you can't access. :bang:
At some point in the future though the OS you are using may not run the the Photoshop you have. 32bit XP users aren't able to run CS6, and one would assume, the Creative Cloud for example. Hopefully at that point there are cheap alternatives with similar functionality available.