I agree with you 100% that everyone needs to be proactive and has to create a back up of their working software, resist the urge to do any last minute updating close to your expiration , and when possible just disable the internet connection to it, or block Autel's web site address afterwards to prevent it from automatically connecting to Autel's server to check for subscription status and any further available updating .
From what I have read on the forum , it sounds like if you update an older Pre 2015 software DS708 or MaxiSys to get Newer car coverage , that some of the functionality of the older car coverage has allegedly been compromised or lost. It doesn't help that Autel once made claims the Flagship DS708 once was at least 90% of the OE tools functionality on some makes but now Tool comparison charts dismisses the DS708 and MS906 coding abilities as minimal to the MaxiSys platforms coding abilities as being advanced. Most of the complaints of software functionality was generated from post logo removed software versions of MaxiSys software. Why would I want to chance a new update on my DS708 (with older software at the 90% capability Autel once claimed the former flagship DS708 once possessed) to get newer coverage at the risk of dumbing down the older car coverage with the newer more legal approved version of software which coding functions now listed as minimal.
All this is just Hearsay and may indeed be BS until a complete comparison of same scan tool model can be done with old 2014 and current software to see if the functionality of the new update's older car coverage functionality is at least as good as it ever was and listed functions work when tried.
Even with 2014 software My old DS 708 still seems pretty hit or miss communicating some older models Mitsubishi, Subaru, Nissan, Toyota, and communicating with some pre 2003 Chrysler ABS and it's Crossfire model.