Biggest threat to the SOW series

[tater]

One way to go cheaper, and still make the required revenue stream is more, paid updates.

I'd personally be fine with a subscriptive service. I've held a ww2ol account since before 2001 (I was a beta tester). I maintain it even though I don't play much because I love the idea of it, and $12/mo is no big deal to support it. The few hours a month I play are well worth the $12, I'd spend far more in the same few hours at the bar on beer.

Many in the il-2 crowd view any kind of subscriptive model as anathema, but I think it's a good idea. I remember playing WarBirds when it was $2 an HOUR. I had many many months of multi hundred dollar tabs. Worth every penny, too.