I think the term would be "as a service." And I am actually ok with that. There are lots of things I buy that are like that. You don't always need something physical and lasting to show for a purchase. I understand the Oculus business model and went in understanding it. I'm putting in an up-front cost and then future payments for content and I don't own the headset or the content in any kind of traditional sense. The closest analogue in this case is a digital vacation. I will have experiences and memories to show for it and a souvenir once the headset no longer has any functional value.

I am totally ok with it being regulated what could be called ownership. I think the crappiest thing about FB is that a whole lot of early adopters thought they were becoming owners and only later realized that they were renters. Legal action seems possible over this. I went in with clear expectations so I do not have the same complaint. I also recognize this is still an early product category and that I take certain consumer risks to experience the future today.

There would still be things to establish with regards to this new type of relationship. Who is responsible for repairs? How about recycling? How about insurance? How about upgrades? If as a customer I am no longer an owner of the device, I believe some of these should no longer be my responsability.