[danprime]

I can't agree with this enough. I built software/hardware for a computer accessibility company. We helped people with disabilities (i.e. motor, cognitive, etc.) use computers and be productive. Clients/Schools/Therapists would pay for a license and then expect/demand continual support forever and ever and the company I worked for didn't factor in the support.

I love the work, I love the impact, and I would absolutely love to go back in and help, but until there's a better (or even sustainable) pricing model I can't go back because it's unfair. I'm not even saying it's unfair for the developer, I'm saying it's unfair for the end-user because they have this expectation of what they're getting for their money and when they don't get it, they'll feel cheated.

For example, we had clients who were upset when we could not support OS 9 systems (this was in 2011) - this would be the equivalent to expecting support for Windows 95. It was unrealistic, but our clients had been using the solution reliably for that many years and it literally became a way of life - upgrading could mean re-training a way of life.

In the App-based economy it's simply expected that when someone pays $0.99 that the app will work on their phone for as long as they keep that phone. I'm amazed by the companies/developers who are able to make a <$5 "work".