This is un-ethical. Although free updates from Themeforest / Codecanyon for Lifetime (literally) is also unsustainable for authors and a failing business, so many quality authors have called it quits ! I have 2 points to say : Firstly, when WordPress makes platform changes in the entire software tech stack , the plugin+theme developers are required to re-develop their products so as to not get obsolete. Some would simply stop, as the costs of re-development far outweigh the remaining lifetime value of their products. Secondly, we are already aware of so many entrepreneurs facing covid / post-covid “Fatigue”, “Burnouts” which led to the sellouts of their businesses. It might be that they are planning to create a profitable business model only to sell out to some investors.