Did you change the original paid app to the free/subscription model? How did the original users who paid for the app react to this? Considering to change one of my apps to a subscription model, but unsure if this is the best approach.
When apps I use switch to subscriptions, I stop using them and switch to ones that don’t. When I’m considering an app and I see that they’re demanding regular payments, that app is out of consideration. (I’ve also convinced my friends and employer to avoid subware as well; people often back away from it once they do the math and realize how expensive it really is.)
I have no problem paying $50—or even $100—for good software, once. Thousands of dollars over the course of years is simply not reasonable.