Totally off topic of this thread, but this line is interesting to me. Ignition 7.9.11 and 8+ actually improve the Java situation dramatically, as we have fully licensed and embedded it, such that the end user no longer has to worry about java in any way (installing, maintaining, and any current or future licensing changes). I don't want to hijack the thread, but if you have specific questions on this, maybe create a new topic for further discussion?
The change had absolutely nothing to do with profit margins, getting more cash, "stickin' to integrators", etc. I think someone might give you a more full response, but the boring non-answer of it is that there are a number of factors in play, and this just made the most sense right now. One component is our effort to build an international network that actually still prioritizes integrators. That is, we need to build a program that works around the world, even with international distributors. That doesn't help you, of course, but that's why we've been looking hard at the ways we can replace that value in other ways.
These changes aren't fun, given the choice between "more or less", nobody would ever choose "less" (well, maybe if we're talking about taxes...), but sometimes we have to do it. We spend a lot of time analyzing these changes, and actually talk to many many customers, and so far the response to this has been very reasonable. The vast majority of our integrators don't sell the software to make their money on the margin, but instead use it to drive their integration work, which has a much higher payoff.
Finally, unequivocally, there is absolutely no buyout situation in play. All of the conjectures of motivation in this thread are just simply wrong.
All of that said and out of the way, please feel free to continue the discussion on the integrator program, your other points are perfectly valid.