Insert some convoluted argument about new versions being "new versions" and not updates, so one is not entitled to them ;-) , just like politicians argue things like genocide not being genocide.
I hate the subscription model but I do recognize if they continously update the software, they'd like to get paid to do so.
Where does it say that?
That is common and it is the model I use for my own software. But that isn't what I understood from their website.
Home page: "Pay Once, Use Forever. We hate needless subscriptions as much as you do. TextQuery comes with a perpetual license with free updates."
Pricing page: "Perpetual license Lifetime updates"
Which strongly implies every update is free, forever.