Comment Re:A possible bright point (Score 2) 92
$500 is not expensive for 3D software, and it's more than fair for what you get:
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Additional 2D and 3D exporters and importers - Plugins for these tend to cost $50+ per format for other packages. (Examples: 1, 2.) And, that's without getting into CAD loaders which are often much more expensive.
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Dynamic component creation - If this were a plugin, I'd expect to pay $50-100 for it.
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LayOut - This addition to the package obsoleted a $300 Illustrator plugin I used to use to achieve the same end.
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Direct Support - This might justify the price for you all by itself. I have a support contract for one of SketchUp's competitors that runs me more than $500, and it's charged each year.
The past few upgrades have been cheap, too, at $95. 30-50% of the original cost per upgrade is more common.
As for your speculation on price reduction and increased package granularity, I don't see that happening. The only such change we've seen in the past 6 years was due to Google's purchase of @Last, which gave us the free version. Google subsidized that on the back of Google Earth subs and ad revenue from Maps. I'd be worried about the free version going away, if it weren't for reassurances in the press release saying they'll keep offering it. Instead, it makes me wonder where the subsidy will come from now. Maybe Trimble will also be purchasing Google Earth.