On Thu, 29 Jul 2021 14:35:00 +1200, I wrote:
What’s clear from the details is that development is primarily going into the cloudy versions of Windows Server, with those who prefer to manage their own instances on their own hardware being increasingly left behind...
Further on this <https://www.theregister.com/2021/08/19/windows_server_2022/>: It appears that Microsoft is keen to drive even its on-premises customers to a subscription model. Responding to a customer complaint that Azure Stack HCI works out as more expensive than a perpetual licence for Windows Server Datacenter Edition (which allows unlimited Windows Server VMs), Christensen offered no comfort, saying <https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-server-ama/virtualization-improvements-for-non-hci-installations/m-p/2409730/highlight/true#M443>: "Today unfortunately the model is not all the way there yet, you have the infra in a modern subscription offering and then licensing of the guests in a traditional perpetual license... we are looking at how to improve that to offer the guest licenses in a subscription model as well."