The business case
Predictable monthly revenue is cheaper to finance and more valuable to investors. A $10/month sub is worth more than a $200 one-time sale on the company’s books, even though you paid less.
The trick
Annual price increases of 5-10% are invisible to most users. Same product gets 50% more expensive over five years and you don’t notice because the line item never doubled.
The audit
List every recurring charge. Cancel anything you didn’t actively use last month. The ‘I might use it’ assumption is exactly what they’re banking on.