> Just like you would buy any other good.
Software is not a "good". If you bought "go ide" a year+ ago and your updates ran out, you can throw it away now.
> On top of that, you also get 1 year of free updates
They are not free, you subscribed to them by paying the subscription. What is free is the copy of the software after your subscription ends.
> How is this a subscription?
It's a subscription because the product you buy is supported for one year.
> Why should the developer work forever for you on a meager $25 payment?
This is irrelevant to the topic at hand.
FWIW, I think it's a good model, for both user and the developer, but I would not try to pretend it's not a subscription with a big bold text. Just avoid the word and all is good.