Stgrlee,

No, I'm sure you're not alone. Lots of people do not see the value in upgrading to the latest version of any particular software. In fact, whether or not the value is worth the cost is truly a personal decision.

There are at least two components to the value of a new version of software: For the developer/manufacturer, they see value as increased because they paid programmers vast sums of money to 1) ensure it works with the latest version of Windows OS and Intel processor, etc, and 2) has new/improved features or performance that existing or potential customers tell the developer they want. So they honestly and rightly (for them) feel the additional/increased price is justifiable. They're not trying to play you for a dummy*; they just want to get paid for what they do.

But for the customer, the value lies in what the product 'does' for them. That's a very subjective measurement; one person really really really wants to fly floatplanes over rippling water, but another is happy to do without. One person wants to fly at night at the carnival, and another is just happy learning which way to point the plane in the daytime. They will assign different values to the new version and see the cost justification very differently.

Of course, many people, like you, feel like after spending a certain amount they're entitled to the new version at no additional cost. I see your point, and don't entirely disagree. The reason the 'automobile upgrade' explanation doesn't work for me is that, so long as you keep it maintained, a car is likely to run on any road far into the forseeable future. Maintenance is needed, but cars generally don't get kicked off the road for having older technology. And if you do decide to 'upgrade' your car, you usually get something from the dealer for the trade-in.

On the other hand, PC technology changes so fast that at some point older PC operating systems become unsupported and practically impossible to maintain--one is FORCED to upgrade the OS, and frequently that means paying out-of-pocket to upgrade the hardware and software as well, usually with no trade-in value. If hardware and OS development ever stabilizes, or if software is improved to the point that it will run independent of the two, then it'll be more like the car market. For now, if the developer has to invest real money to keep the software current in the market, somebody has to pay them to do it. That's us.

With all that said: I didn't see the value (for me) in G4, so I bought G3.5 (at a nice discount from its original MSRP) and will stick with it until at some future point someone (maybe GP/Knife Edge, maybe some other company) offers something I think is worth what it will cost me to upgrade/switch. They are allowing 3.5 users to 'trade-in' for 4 at $100 or so, right?

Unless you yourself see $100 worth of value in the features or performance of the new version, stick with what you've got--until you have upgraded your hardware and/or OS to the point that your older version will not run anymore. Then the value of having version 4 (or 4.5, or 5, or....?) may seem worth the $ cost. Like having a car that requires leaded gas, I guess. Time to park it and get a new one.

Hope this was helpful.


* Their marketing department, however, IS trying to play you for a dummy. They will do everything (short of telling a provable lie) to convince you that you NEED the new version. As with any product, you need to look past the marketing hype to make your own decision about whether or not the new capabilties are worth, for YOU, the cost of admission. If not, do not give them your money.