Most software is pretty useless after a while. I moved my photoshop adobe work to the online system. It is nice to know that I always have the most recent tools.
I have microsoft office on the web. I get it at a reduced rate from work. Again, its less than I was paying for it before.
I still own my car, but more and more people wont.
With the advent of auction and sales sites, I have been able to buy high end photography equipment new, and sell it in three years (after being depreciated for two) for almost 85% of what I paid for it.
Its like renting. Only better.
Why buy stuff you that should be replaced every few years when you can rent the latest for less.
As long as you are smart about it. Most people are just greedy. They want more now. Then in three years, you’ve paid for it. And its gone.
A word about books. I love books. I always have two or three going at once.
But the advent of ebooks has been a game changer. I get my magazines via the web. I get novels and text books via the web. If I didn’t have the larger type on the iPad, I would be lost.