ctbram > 'I don't believe performance improvements and bugs fixes qualify as a "new release". Furthermore the point I made is still valid - "new releases" that break plugins, and preference settings, and scripts without really providing any significant improvements in the the program only hinder productivity and are simply a way for marketing to get people to buy the same program every 6 to 12 months.'

I absolutely agree. I think a few minor performance improvements and bug fixes qualify as patches, not as major realeases. And they should be free patches too. If Autodesk tweaked every single line of code, streamlined the interface and the way you do things so everything from the program to the workflow is faster even with fifty new features, then they can call it a major release without doubt and I might just praise it.