Win 9x is very unstable. But, it works good enough for most, and people have already paid for it.

Of course other companies will try to rent code instead of selling a license. After the rental agreement expires, you can't use the code withoutpaying for an upgrade. This puts a constant stream of revenue into the code companies hands.

Why?

Subscribing means paying for patches. Most of the so called features, chrome, or bells and whistles added are useless ephemera to most people. Nice is certain situations, yea, but largely useless to general public.

I don't tolerate car leases, where car dealers lock you into a perpetual scheme of give us cash or else. Why tolerate it from software companies who wish to charge you for something you bought that doesn't work so they charge for a fix?