Let me be clear on something here, I'm not advocating a "cloud system" for VSL I'm just recognizing a trend that I see with other software companies. However, a cloud system would create many possibilities for potential users who currently cannot afford VSL or only wish to license the products for a limited time. This, in turn, will create many more revenue streams for VSL (or a lot of problems too).
Personally, my only complaint with the keys is that I have to buy a new one every two years in order to keep it in warranty. Other than that, I'm quite content with the current state of affairs.
The problem I have with the "Refresh" idea is that sometimes months go by where I don't use VSL and I don't want to be hassled by having to create new passwords every 30 days when the last time I used VSL was three months ago.
I realize that we are paying "huge" sums of money for our samples and the machines we need to run our samples but, in the end, the samples are not widgets to be bought and sold they are the intellectual property of VSL. We are paying huge sums of money for the RIGHT to USE them.
it appears as though there just isn't any "one size fits all" solution. It's not that there are any improprieties on the part of VSL. They are just protecting their intellectual property. Just like we take steps to protect our intellectual property, our music.