While I agree with you to some extend, there also was a student edition of PS for I think around 200bucks, which offered a reasonable alternative and was regula

While I agree with you to some extend, there also was a student edition of PS for I think around 200bucks, which offered a reasonable alternative and was regularly subject to various discounts. I think the subscription model may be good for businesses, because they could always be on the latest version without having to go through a new approval process etc. However, for private users the barrier to entry will generally not be lowered I believe. At least not for the occasional amateur photographer/graphic designer/video guy. Many people buy PS once and are on e.g. version 'CS' and stay there for a rather long time. They might try the new thing out, but can always fall back because they "own" a copy and can use it as they please. People do not think as rational about it, the security to always have a fallback is worth a lot apparently.