Physical Items with Subscriptions

[Ttaskmaster]

If the physical item needs an ongoing, active service in order to do the things you're paying for then that's understandable - SatNavs need data connection for corrected maps and live traffic. Phones need data for internet and calls. Home broadband needs an ISP to P the IS. Sky TV is a service provided to your SKYbox thing, and so on...

But if the thing can simply work fine without needing such a service, then forget it. There's no need for ongoing charges.
If there's a special unlock of an advanced mode, maybe charge a one-off supplement fee for unlocking it, but other than that it's just blatantly milking the buyer and really not acceptable.

[cheesemp]

I think it comes down to how much they are 'nickle and diming you'. Is it a good deal or not (I like the idea mentioned that its more cost effective over 3 years you might keep a car (not that I can afford to replace my car that often!). For example are they using the users who can pay the extra (whales?) to make a better car more affordable for a feature that has little impact (1s off 0-60 is low impact for example - if I bought a car like that second hand I'd just not buy it). Where it annoys me is for more useful stuff like heated seats/steering wheel. Its a really useful feature in a car (I'd love it in my car with a half-broken heater right now) and no way am I going to pay in perpetuity (7 odd years is average for me owning a car) for it. Its not like you are excepting a minor drop in performance. Its there but doesn't work.