[digler990]

I feel like the term "lease" isn't appropriate unless there is a viable way and underlying plan to eventually return it. When I lease I car, I have to return it. They don't sell me the car under the auspices of a lease, with no way to ever return it, and still restrict my rights on what I can do with it.

[ilikepi]

Given enough time, software eventually becomes unsupported, and then -- perhaps after more time, but perhaps not -- unusable. In effect, this is the return at the end of the auto lease. It's not a perfect analogy (really nothing ever is), but it's pretty good, especially I think for people not used to thinking about this issue with software and other digital goods.

[yborg]

You're describing the same thing as leasing a car. Eventually the car is out of warranty and then at some point wears out and becomes undriveable. People don't typically lease vehicles for the physical life of the hardware.

[jsprogrammer]

Some analogies are perfect, they are called isomorphisms, and, if found, are very powerful.