It's not clear that this is a nasty trend. The article mentions that this is for infrequently used applications. So they are basically doing a pay-per-use scheme. Seems reasonable to me for something I don't use a lot. Would, in fact, be preferable to a subscription model if I don't think I need frequent access to that functionality.
When software vendors charge by the seat, sometimes customers buy less than they need (Just use Fred's ID).
If this idea takes hold, maybe customers will DO less to save money. (Get all your work done in one session every Tuesday). What if you forget to do something? What if something comes up?
I just hate the idea of anything that disincentivizes people to use their software.
I belong to an car sharing company and they have 3 options:
1) Pay a relatively large monthly fee and a low per use fee.
2) Pay a moderate monthly fee and a moderate per use fee.
3) Pay no monthly fee and the highest rate per use.
If you use the service rarely you can pay nothing most months. If you use the service regularly it is best to pay a higher monthly rate. You can switch between plans at any time. I think a little flexibility helps customers control their costs.
