It wasn't as onerous as you make it seem. Certainly that last bit - entering the product key - is way better than what we have today. I can save the key in a text file alongside the installer and the software can be reinstalled completely offline whenever I want.
I still have my Windows 98 product key and installer stashed away, purchased decades ago. And I actually used them a few months ago to stand up a VM to utilize an ancient printer.
Way better for me-the-consumer than the subscription-everything model. When software decides to go that way, I usually find a FOSS alternative or cling to the last standalone version.
I still have my Windows 98 product key and installer stashed away, purchased decades ago. And I actually used them a few months ago to stand up a VM to utilize an ancient printer.
Way better for me-the-consumer than the subscription-everything model. When software decides to go that way, I usually find a FOSS alternative or cling to the last standalone version.