Yes I really doubt people were saying they wanted to be charged every year was my first thought.
But I am hearing from more and more customers they are just turning to Hasleo free as it has more to offer than Macrium free did which is what they had been using.
I don't understand how people can actually believe that there is software that is actually 'free'.
Somebody somewhere is paying the cost of software development, testing, distribution, marketing.
Maybe not the users in the short time, until enough of a market base is built.
It is the venture capital backers that supply the initial development capital.
But at some point free software needs to be sold to continue development and support.
As to a one-time license vs a subscription model, it depends on what you expect as ongoing enhancement/bugfixes/etc.
If you pay for a subscription, then ongoing bugfixes and enhancements are included in that subscription cost.
If you pay for one time license, it maybe include bugfixes for a year or so.
But enhancements and ongoing bugfixes in years 2, 3, 4, ... should require some form of upgrade, like a nominal fee for another year of support, if you so desire.
Otherwise if you only expect to pay once and expect a lifetime of bug fixes and feature updates you are not being realistic IMHO.
