I can't tell you how many pieces of electronic video gear from the 1990s had this same business model.
Buy an Ampex ADO (a digital special effects device that shrunk down a video image) for one price. Want the page flip effect? Buy an RTU (Right to Use) license. Want 3D effects? Buy another RTU license. Etc., etc.
The function was built into the machine already. Why do I have to pay more just to unlock it? Instead, just charge a bit more for each unit and let them all have full function.
It must be cheaper to deliver a fully loaded unit than to ship custom configurations. IBM Power platforms do the same. Tiered model gets gets delivered with max capability, but you pay to turn on processor and memory.
Then you pay EMC on the other end.
That’s how I like to do things. I don’t like paying per use. I’d rather pay more to make it mine to use when I want.
“I can’t tell you how many pieces of electronic video gear from the 1990s had this same business model.”
an ancient trick ... back in the day, IBM used step pulleys to drive their card sorters, and expensive speed upgrades involved nothing more than service techs opening the drive cover and moving the drive belt over one or more steps depending on how much speed you paid for ...