Hi,
I too started with Fusion because it was free but I did end up buying a subscription.
Bang for your buck I don't think there is anything out there that comes close. Fusion for instance has FEA analysis, an Electronics/PCB module, generative design and more. There is no other
CAM that incorperates all those features. In my case it means that just one software package does just about everything I require whereas I would need at least four different packages otherwise.
I don't much like the subscription model either but having said that many of the competing perpetual licensed CAM software have annual update fees that result in Fusion looking very competitive overall.
Remember that all the Vectric's and BoBCad's etc have an entry level package, typically $500-$600, but they are too limited, you need the lowest level Pro package and they start at about $2000.
Fusion competes head-on with those low level Pro versions, and when viewed like that I believe Fusion is the best value on the market.
What bugs me most about Fusion is not the subscription but its the cloud model. If your local internet connection slows down for any reason or the cloud servers are busy or being updated you can't
work and that really REALLY pisses me off. But what can you do???
If I had my way I'd get Mastercam, but with a good suite of extras costs $20,000 plus $2500 a year.....
Craig