So does that mean if I buy a new car this year and the next years version has a different paint scheme but is the same vehicle under the skin, I should buy another new one, just to keep current?

Nice try, but no sale here.

I purchase software based on lots of criteria. One being will I get my investment worth in time. Other than OS's, most software is designed to perform a specific task. In a business environment, if you purchase today what you need and it works now and 5 years from now, why should you upgrade? Not everybody needs the "latest and greatest" software versions. We still use Office 97. Why? Because it works and most of the users don't even use 75 - 80% of the features it has. I have been to M$ seminars where the speaker admitted they made that version too good and up to Office12, there has not been any real advancement in the program. Certainly not to justify the cost to upgrade to gain usability that won't be appreciated. We shall see what O12 offers. Same stuff, new dressing?

Software better last longer than a few years or become so cheap that it just becomes better to upgrade based on financial reasons alone. Maybe somebody needs to offer 3rd party support for software that companies retire. NT is an example of that could be supported by 3rd party for price.

Some software companies appear to be following the plan of a local contractor here back in the 80's. He built cookie cutter design strip malls on a lot of properties in town. Which led him to build some of the larger malls in town. Problem was, he had to keep starting new projects to acquire new funding just to complete the other projects already under construction. In the end, he ran out of new projects and it caught up with him. Now the properties are owned by others that purchased them for pennies on the dollar.

If software companies want to sell new enhancements to a base product to generate new revenue, that's fine. They can always sell new versions to new customers and upgrade current customers a long the way, if they want. Just state the programs shelf life on the box when its support will expire. Same as shelf life for the food you buy. Then I can decide if I want it or not.