Originally Posted by plsureking

most open source scripts are out of date. unless its really popular - like 100k+ installs - updates are few and far between. new features are rare and getting support is usually impossible.

paying recurring fees for a script means you're getting an actively developed project -- new features are added, new technologies implemented, users are supported.

the better serviced scripts also include perks, such as hosting and video conversion. the lame ass ones will charge extra for these features.