>Don't ask me - I think the subscription model, as envisioned by MS, STINKS! But the answer is probably GREED.

I doubt its greed like you think it is. I bet its more like "Everyone uses our software and has all the features they need, but we still need to make money otherwise we die." As far as teh subscription model, you have two choices, get used to it, or go open source.

>Except IE is not a "packaged product". Since many browsers are free I should have said purchased package products.

Who cares if they bought or not, they can still read what I want them to read! Or isn't that the point of transfering information? :-)