So, no path to one-time pay for a cumulative upgrade? And, if you stop paying after you "upgraded" the license, you lose access to the thing you bought?

> So, no path to one-time pay for a cumulative upgrade?

That is certainly not a requirement for "ownership", no.

> And, if you stop paying after you "upgraded" the license, you lose access to the thing you bought?

What part of "nobody else changes it–for better or worse–out from under you" is unclear?

It is for cars, there are safety recalls, even long after warranty lapses.

For software I wouldn't expect new features but bug fixes seem almost legislatable.

Security fixes maybe. But no one is recalling cars for non-safety issues, no matter how annoying the bug.

That would be the warranty part.

I have seen it done in the past, in a limited way.

You would buy a product, and it would give you access to the thing you purchased at that version number plus a number of versions afterwards. Pass that point, you needed to buy it again. I think it is a good compromise between "I own the thing I paid" and "I have to give lifetime support for people who purchase an item once many years ago"

Can you re-download the "lifetime" version of the app if you reinstall or upgrade your phone?