OP Says, "Phil_C effectively locked all his assets, and you can't clone them, get inside them, nor trade them ... And he didn't use DRM."
Really! I just cloned 2 of his payware locos in TS2010 with no problems. Around 2 years ago I exported all his payware from TRS2006 into CDPs and reinstalled them in 2010. No problems there either. Now, I don't know what might happen if I cloned all the dependencies, exported to a CDP, and tried to run them on someone else's computer (i.e., a Trainz install not licensed to my Trainz user ID). There was a "key" file in there I think that somehow locked the files to a specific user ID. Is that what you were referring to?
As for "locked" Config files, I strongly oppose that. I have a very few (possibly Phil_C non-payware older assets, I don't know) that had locked non-editable Config files. These are a pain in the butt because I almost always change the username in all assets that appear in the Surveyor loco/railcar and/or building/trees/scenery lists. There is no order/format whatsoever in how creators name their assets. I like order!! I like all my locos and/or cars to appear as per the examples below. They sort together in Surveyor so you can easily locate them. This is very important to me. If you are going to DRM or lock files to prevent editing then there still needs to be a way to at least modify the username to we can get some decent order in how assets are displayed in Surveyor. I'm not into stealing/sharing other creator's files but I would like to be able to locate them myself.
Examples: (DE = Diesel Electric whereas SE would be a Steam Engine) followed by model, RR, loco #, and additional info)
DE-AC4400CW-CTE UP #5888 V2,<kuid2:574550:1154:1>
DE-AC4400CW-CTE UP #5888 Weathered V2,<kuid:574550:100015>
DE-AC6000CW CSX Auto# (Fuel) Bright Future,<kuid2:86105:8170:2>
DE-AC6000CW CSX Auto# (Fuel) Bright Future(clone),<kuid:214940:100420>
DE-AC6000CW UP Auto# (Fuel),<kuid2:86105:8172:2>
DE-AC6000CW UP Auto# (Fuel) We Will Deliver,<kuid2:86105:8174:2>
DE-ALCO DL-109 NH Class DER-1 Brooks Brothers,<kuid:376853:100680>
DE-ALCO DL-109 NH Class DER-1 Brooks Brothers Gold,<kuid:376853:100683>
DE-ALCO DL-109 NH Class DER-1 Brooks Brothers late,<kuid:376853:100678>
DE-ALCO DL-109 NH Class DER-1 Layer Cake,<kuid:376853:100686>
DE-ALCO FA-1 MOPAC #301,<kuid:353984:1264>
DE-ALCO FA-1 MOPAC #330,<kuid:353984:1266>
DE-ALCO FB-1 MOPAC #301B,<kuid:353984:1265>
DE-BBL Amtrak Cascades BBL Cab Car,<kuid2:104609:1532:5>
DE-BBL Amtrak Surfliner BBL Cab Car,<kuid2:104609:1526:5>
DE-B23-7R GE Auto# (1700-1999) Super 7 Undec,<kuid:101046:102476>
DE-B36-7 CSX Auto# (5806-5926) Stealth,<kuid:473973:100011>
DE-B39-8E SP #8019,<kuid:473973:100295>
DE-B39-8E SP #8024,<kuid:473973:100296>
Examples: (F = car type (flatcar), 53 = length (ft), GF = General Flat whereas WC = well car, etc, LDL = Loads designated load vs LML = Loads multiple loads vs PRL = Permanent Roadrailer Load, followed by RR letters, car number, and other info.)
F53GFLDL UP #58234 Wheelsets,<kuid:101046:101247>
F53GFLML UP Auto#,<kuid:101046:101282>
F53GFLML UP #58234 V2,<kuid2:101046:101252:1>
F53RRPRL Roadrailer A (auto),<kuid:38408:15006>
F53RRPRL Roadrailer A (standard),<kuid:38408:15000>
F53RRPRL Roadrailer A (standard) Swift,<kuid:323193:100017>
F53RRPRL Roadrailer A (standard) Triple Crown Services,<kuid:38408:15012>
And, yes, N3V will go away someday, just as Auran did after TRS2006. If the "mother ship" goes away will your TANE cease to work? It could very well happen with TANE/DRM if no one picks up the flag from N3V. As with investments, don't put all your trust in one product.