[aidenn0]

Subscriptions for SaaS are essentially a lease, and leases are almost always preferable to sales for the one doing the leasing. See e.g. IBM[1]

[edit]

Software (and other media with a high development cost, but low marginal cost such as films) are particularly valuable to lease, because you remove the secondary market, which can cannibalize sales.

1: https://www.jstor.org/stable/40751117?seq=1

[rasz]

Leasing is preferable for Business if you need creative book keeping because you live over your means or need to hide something.

[whinythepooh]

For SaaS I agree but subscriptions for stationary bike, for food, for printer ink, for traktors, etc.

[aidenn0]

Stationary bike and tractors fit the mold perfectly; if you can't use it without the subscription, it's effectively a lease.

Food and printer ink are different because they are consumables.