An argued position · economics
Utility, not SaaS.
The useful product is not the one with the longest roadmap. It is the one that completes a bounded job, accrues valuable configuration and remains affordable enough to keep.
Complete is a product decision
A utility earns its place by doing the whole recognisable job. Its boundary can expand, but launch is not an excuse to omit the difficult middle of the workflow.
Retention should come from value
Configuration, history and accumulated evidence create a legitimate reason to stay. Artificial switching pain does not.
Cheap is not free
Flat, legible pricing makes the purchasing decision proportionate to the problem. The system must therefore be deliberately inexpensive to operate.
The practical test
Can a buyer understand the job, the price, the operating shape and the exit path without a demonstration? If not, the product is still hiding part of its contract.