I think it is only worth paying to keep it fully updated if you work at a Body Shop and see  a lot of collision damaged cars BMW, Mercedes Benz, and Volkswagen and use the Online programming offered on a weekly basis. I work on mostly USA and Asian cars and bought an almost new MS908 P used for $1500 with close to a year of updates remaining and tried the programming it offered for a 2006 BMWX5, but when I checked what was available in updated files, I found that no newer reflashes were available over what the vehicle already possessed. I thought about what could happen if things were to go wrong reflashing a Hi end car with 2nd party files downloaded off  a server in China.

  I have had some issues with Honda / Acura ABS data display was broken and not getting the VSA neutralization procedure to work with some models. With some Nissan models I had 3 choices and only the last choice allowed proper communication and scanning of car modules.

  I think $700 instead of $1200 would be a fair price for a year of updates for the Pro if they gave you a cheaper  option to update car makes and just forgo server access to the BMW, Benz , and VW Programming , but still be able to do advanced coding and use the Maxi Flash Elite VCI as a J2534 pass through off a Windows laptop with a purchased Sub from a domestic or Asian car maker.