VMware

Pros

• Historically regarded as a high-quality, stable virtualization product.
• The vSphere environment remains well-liked by some users for its interface and feature set.
• Deeply established ecosystem with a large pool of experienced administrators.

Cons

• Significant price hikes following the Broadcom acquisition that make it unaffordable for many.
• Aggressive and predatory account management practices reported by sysadmins.
• Shift to per-core licensing has dramatically increased the cost of maintaining existing infrastructure.
• Perceived 'scorched earth' approach to the product's legacy and customer relationships.

Caveats

• Users report the use of 'scare tactics' by sales reps regarding licensing compliance and potential outages.
• The transition from perpetual licenses to subscription models is a primary source of friction.
• Some users are choosing to run without support or on older versions while planning migrations.

Best for

• Large, high-revenue corporations with the budget to absorb significant licensing increases.
• Organizations with complex legacy environments where the cost of migration exceeds the new licensing fees.

Avoid if

• You are a small or medium-sized business with a limited IT budget.
• You require a predictable, perpetual licensing model.
• You prefer a vendor with a reputation for supportive customer and community relations.