I believe that part of the concerns stem from this statement:
To me, that says those who are Perpetual License holders and are +Active Customers qualify for this new service. At least, that's how it comes across to me.
I purchased the Perpetual License as it was the best one available at the time for me. I wouldn't have to worry about staying on top of updates and fees. However, ever since I made my purchase I have opted-in for paying for the $30/year fee for support/etc. Even though I've rarely needed support (three tickets in the three or so years I've had it, two being with IP.Board 3's release) I felt it was the right thing to do by paying the recurring fee. The reason I say this is that it shows I'm an active customer who is continuing to show support for IPS. Sure, paying is optional for support with this license (if you want support) but I also believe it shows appreciation for the products IPS distributes. I believe that if a product is truly of outstanding quality and dependability, then a person should have no issues showing support to the developers financially.
A bit long winded but I hope I'm getting my point across. :P