As I understand it, companies get to keep any licenses they procure during the three year period at no charge upon graduating the program. Procuring additional licenses then starts to cost, but those are discounted for a two year period post-graduation.
Saying it's analogous to shady adjustable-rate mortgage practices is a bit of a stretch.
Maybe a small stretch.. But if you expect your company is going to be rapidly growing going into year four, you are going to go from zero software cost to very high software costs. After three years of commitment and investment are you going to spend the time to switch platforms? At that point you are stuck. Better to commit to free from the start.
Saying it's analogous to shady adjustable-rate mortgage practices is a bit of a stretch.