Vendor lock-in makes switching if a better option comes along significantly more difficult. At the same time, the near-guarantee of the vendor that has the loc

Vendor lock-in makes switching if a better option comes along significantly more difficult. At the same time, the near-guarantee of the vendor that has the lock means they have far fewer incentives to be responsive to changing needs by the client. In addition, given the lock-in, whenever 3 or 5 years maintenance agreement contracts near their end, the Vendor has significant leverage to demand more $$$ for pretty much the same level of service. The overall result is a lower quality product that can eventually put the buyer years behind the current best-of-breed capabilities, all at a significantly higher cost.