[d3fun]

It tied to your apple account . You can login into app store and install it without having to pay again just like how the current app store works with other apps.

[ugh]

Replacement harddrives tend to be empty.

[MediaBehavior]

I know not everybody has an external case, but many of those who replace own HDs do. They can (as I do):

Use Carbon Copy Cloner to backup / prepare for system upgrade.

[ugh]

Sure, that’s when you have a working and bootable backup. If you don’t (for example because you are using Time Machine) it’s not really clear what you do.

I think Apple has thought of some solution, we just don’t know it yet. It’s an interesting question.