Just until a predefined time period (thus a predefined price) is reached.

That’s a good idea!

No, no, no! It’s all about having control! If you use the pay once model then you aren’t at the mercy of the font vendors!

I completely understand this point when we talk about print fonts. One must have full control for those fonts. But what sort of control do you need for a webfont? It must work on the web – nothing else.

And dont get me started on using THEIR css files. Goods know what it will contain!

What should it contain? Nothing but a plain link to a font file. Why should the font vendor have an interest in doing something bad with your website?
I see this rather as a service. For example: Different browsers might support different font features (fonts formats/kerning/OpenType features and so on.) A font foundry server could process the incoming requests dynamically and sent each user the appropriate font.

If you use a subscription then there can be problems if they decide to change the rate. Finding and setting new and fitting fonts on all the companies webpages takes time and effort.
And dont get me started on using THEIR css files. Goods know what it will contain!

Lesson number one: always distrust those you are dealing with. Most of us learn this the hard way! This is especially true when it comes to dealing with companies that are in the web design bizz.

The only way they could increase there sales would be to release limited versions of their commercial fonts for web use, which will make these fonts much more popular in other business sectors, which will in fact pay for the fonts.

Sure, it’s very likely that the font vendors will do something like that. We already started this.
But I think this is a side issue. There will be a market with millions of potential customers. The results of the survey support this.
But it’s always hard to see the full scope of it, as long as it’s not there. That’s why I think the quote about the automobile is appropriate.
Illegal copies and distribution are obviously a major concern here, but they will not stop this development. Music downloads are also a big market, even though you could get any MP3 for free and the files can be easily copied and re-distributed.

I would have been more happier if you hadn’t cited one sentence of my comment totally out of context.
As long as we can’t copy cars within nanoseconds your quote is just plain stupid.

My proposal would have improved the situation for everyone, not just the foundries. Or do we want lawsuits against our children like in the music or the film business?

Chris