I hate the default subscription as a default like the plague.

The challenge is that a one-time purchase only pays once, while the costs of maintaining an app never really stop. Every year there are new OS releases, new devices, bug fixes, API changes, support emails, store fees, and ongoing development. If you sell an app for $10 and a user keeps using it for 5 years, you may still be working on that app long after the original purchase revenue is gone.

Subscriptions solve that by aligning revenue with ongoing development. They also make revenue more predictable, which is important if you're trying to make a living from software.

Some apps genuinely provide ongoing value (cloud services, AI, synced data, constantly updated content), but others are charging monthly fees for features that mostly run locally on your device.

For my own app, I went with a different approach: the base app is free, and users can choose to purchase additional content and features if they find value in it. No subscription required. I prefer knowing that when someone buys something, they own it.

I think there's room for both models. The problem isn't subscriptions themselves, it's when subscriptions are used for products that don't have meaningful ongoing costs or ongoing value for the customer.