There is a discussion on Hacker News, but feel free to comment here as well.
Capitalism. If a bunch of number guys say it will make them rich, all other considerations go out the window.
Never forget that they would sell you the air you breathe if they could.
I totally see this coming - breathing tax. Companies will plant some trees on their ground to get public funding paid by these taxes. When the air gets thin some information will be leaked about the amount of trees being way smaller than claimed. It will be found they used artificial treetops to outsmart control by satellite systems to cover for the wood they sold to the wood industry.
Investors love subscription numbers because its consistent profit flow, so many publically traded companies are trying to find ways to turn anything into a subscription. When youre beholden to investors demands, this is the result.
Its why conpanies trying to remove car play/android auto needs to go away. All they want is users to uae their service and start charging you subscription fees themselves once you bought in.