Trial periods would be very very helpful.
As an alternative, I would certainly not be opposed to 'subscribers' getting an additional discount for purchasing.
For example; I would not think twice about getting a subscription to have access to the ones I don't use very much and perhaps try something else out to see if it works. Thus allowing me to purchase and secure the ones I use all the time and not feel like I am paying for it twice.
Ultimately it would be wise for WebAssist to waive the monthly fee for subscription (keep the activation fee even) if you own one or more of the major suites. This would allow users that have already put forth a fair chunk of cash to have access to the lesser individual products and perhaps purchase them.
A system like that would allow those that choose to go the purchase route the opportunity to see if the products do what they need before they purchase. Could make the difference between a happy customer that knows ahead of time whether a product will do the job for them or not and one very disgruntled one that was forced to pay outright only to find its insufficient for what the buyer was under the impression it would do.
One of the biggest issues I gather form the discussions is the alienating of customers that have just recently paid full price or are willing to pay full price. Anyways, I'll leave it at that. I have said enough on the subject. ;-)
