Beware Silver Ticket Issue

The Issue:
"XYZ" is now marked in my install as Payway and if I discontinue Silver membership "XYZ" is "missing" and cannot be downloaded because its "un-purchased" payware?
Yes - precisely. Also, prior to installing the DLC you could edit or clone "XYZ". After the DLC is installed you can no longer do that, and uninstalling the DLC does not restore the ability to edit or clone the asset. If you then go through the additional step of finding and downloading "XYZ" then you can again edit or clone it.

If the version of "XYZ" that was included with the DLC was newer than the version you had originally downloaded and if you have re-saved your route in the meantime then your route will continue to show the asset as missing until you use an additional procedure (that the Help Desk has not documented) that involves creating a new asset.

If you are making routes while the DLC is installed and you might want to upload the route to the DLS (or elsewhere) then you should avoid using anything marked as payware. Unfortunately, this means you avoid using some items which you would be able to use quite safely if they hadn't been marked as payware in the DLC, because they are actually freeware that is available for anyone to download.

Please note: It is not Silver membership that is the issue, or even the subscription model as such. It is the downloadable content in purchased routes that creates the problem. This applies whether the route was purchased as part of a subscription (whether regular or trial) or simply as an add-on route. Of course, downloading purchased routes is a big part of a subscription such as Silver, so the two do tend to go together. But the problem is in the packaging of purchased routes, not in the subscription model. AFAIK the problem does not arise with routes purchased from third parties.
 
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An alias tag in the config file for payware assets would allow TRS19, upon payware deletion through a dropped subscription or other means, to replace such deleted items by DLC indicated alias kuid.
That potential solution is aimed at a slightly different problem - the problem of users creating routes that include payware items and discovering that other users, without those payware items, find that the routes are incomplete. There are ways of addressing that, including improved methods of identifying payware items, improved methods of vetting routes offered for distribution, or automatic substitution of an alternative asset.

The current issue is that assets that should never have been payware in the first place are being installed on users' system as payware, are overwriting installed freeware items, and are remaining as 'Installed Payware (not active)' after the end of a subscription with no simple way to replace them with the original freeware item.
 
If you can provide your list of 400 items that will accelerate the process, ideally in the format as below (by viewing in CM in a new window and copy/paste the kuid list).
This is the list from one system, unfortunately with only a very small amount of payware ever installed, and some items repaired. I will try to obtain the others. I can't create a 'subtract' function so there may be some overlap.
<kuid:-25:596>,<kuid2:661281:35127:4>,<kuid2:572325:80001:1>,<kuid:447264:1>,<kuid2:45324:100105:1>,<kuid2:218873:1097:6>,<kuid:447264:9>,<kuid2:527940:100096:2>,<kuid2:45324:100034:2>,<kuid:447264:2>,<kuid2:138785:2:1>,<kuid:447264:10>,<kuid:103475:60102>,<kuid:447264:6>,<kuid2:404079:1030:2>,<kuid2:68787:115047:18>,<kuid2:404079:1191:1>,<kuid2:103475:60071:1>,<kuid2:385819:160999:9>,<kuid2:64577:50051:4>,<kuid2:45324:100227:2>,<kuid2:45324:28163:2>,<kuid2:404079:1027:2>,<kuid2:328583:20404:1>,<kuid:300193:100145>,<kuid2:103021:1972770:1>,<kuid:276266:100002>,<kuid:276266:1261>,<kuid:276266:1202>,<kuid:242881:100310>,<kuid2:212731:500533:1>,<kuid2:101839:52001:4>,<kuid2:212731:500129:2>,<kuid:103475:32>,<kuid2:212731:500128:2>,<kuid2:212731:500127:2>,<kuid2:212731:500126:2>,<kuid2:212731:500125:2>,<kuid2:45324:100188:1>,<kuid2:212731:500124:2>,<kuid2:212731:500123:2>,<kuid2:212731:500122:2>,<kuid:61119:70011>,<kuid:151575:3003>,<kuid:151575:3002>,<kuid:151575:3001>,<kuid:151575:2001>,<kuid:123250:1123>,<kuid:103475:60100>,<kuid:103475:60088>,<kuid:103475:15032>,<kuid2:103475:54006:1>,<kuid2:45324:100086:1>,<kuid2:101839:42:2>,<kuid2:64577:54505:5>,<kuid2:46162:100006:11>,<kuid2:64577:54502:5>,<kuid2:46162:100004:11>,<kuid2:45324:100197:1>,<kuid2:45324:100185:1>,<kuid2:45324:100183:1>,<kuid2:45324:100165:1>,<kuid2:45324:100159:1>,<kuid2:45324:100158:1>,<kuid2:45324:100112:2>,<kuid2:45324:100046:1>,<kuid2:45324:28157:3>,<kuid2:45324:28156:3>,<kuid2:45324:28155:3>,<kuid2:45324:28154:3>,<kuid2:44090:52251:2>,<kuid:38427:21014>,<kuid2:37581:1172:3>,<kuid2:23299:53002:7>,<kuid:523:19721161>
 
Looking at the figures, even if it is 1,000 assets that are affected out of, by my count a few minutes ago, 482,825 assets on the DLS and installed in TRS19 (not counting any DLC) then that would be 0.2% which would make it, if not "rare", then very "uncommon".
That's not a reasonable way to look at the issue.

Firstly, there has been a negative response from several content creators about how their freeware items became payware. This has the potential to affect the quality and volume of future contributions. While N3V gets the right to issue freeware as payware as part of the upload conditions, that should not include preventing people from downloading the freeware items at the end of their subscription.

Secondly, the items involved tend to be the ones widely used in many existing routes. Route creators tend to stick with assets they know, and re-use portions of earlier rotes. Routes that are particularly affected are those that have previously been on the DLS as freeware, and were subsequently upgraded and issued as payware - the two versions share a large number of DLS assets. So the affected items are used in routes more often than the average numbers indicate.

Thirdly, only one 'missing' asset in a route is sufficient to indicate a problem to the user that creates concern.

Fourthly, and perhaps most importantly, anything that suggests that users are being 'trapped' into the subscription model is going to create a very negative reaction. If you have followed the threads on this topic that will be very evident.

N3V has been aware of the issue since at least November, so the inaction is surprising.
 
My personal opinion is that the Silver/Gold Ticket programs are not a good investment in the long run for the customer. If you find that you like the Trainz game I would recommend an outright purchase as soon as possible.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion - we don't expect everyone to subscribe, that's for sure. :)

For those people who spend $500 a year on DLC, it's a great saving. In four months of Silver membership you get 20 x DLC items added to your vault for the price of purchasing just one DLC route @ $40. Plus of course a monthly DLC (save $4), and 10% off anything on the store.

Regarding the assets, as a temporary fix, we have resolved the "not active" part for ex-freeware items. It's a bigger task to turn them back into their correct freeware form, but we're working on it.

This does not apply to genuine payware items of course.


 
Now that I understand the full implications, it is now getting immediate attention. If you can provide your list of 400 items that will accelerate the process
This is from another source (209). No routes or sessions are included - they should have separate handling. This list includes no duplicates, so that makes a total of 402 assets so far. That's from a very limited amount of installed payware: the final figure will be somewhat higher, but will be difficult to obtain without access to systems with more installed payware.
<kuid2:103475:10006:1>,<kuid2:522774:100054:1>,<kuid2:661281:95934:1>,<kuid2:9000:27610:1>,<kuid2:506034:1270234:6>,<kuid2:103475:1162:2>,<kuid2:578474:100042:1>,<kuid2:506208:100112:3>,<kuid2:276266:100120:3>,<kuid2:33404:22744:1>,<kuid2:522774:100056:3>,<kuid2:103475:10007:1>,<kuid2:522774:100055:1>,<kuid2:522774:100052:1>,<kuid2:506208:100117:3>,<kuid2:103475:10005:1>,<kuid2:53261:37013:3>,<kuid2:171456:149:2>,<kuid2:506034:873093:2>,<kuid2:143205:39107:2>,<kuid2:506034:873091:2>,<kuid2:232345:1155:3>,<kuid2:506034:873090:2>,<kuid2:506034:500644:9>,<kuid2:87145:28067:4>,<kuid2:506034:500643:9>,<kuid2:217537:100259:3>,<kuid2:370528:1315:1>,<kuid2:103475:10031:3>,<kuid2:44779:25007:3>,<kuid2:57230:25007:3>,<kuid2:104722:2501039:1>,<kuid2:53261:25135:3>,<kuid2:506034:127023:8>,<kuid2:506034:125321:8>,<kuid2:124017:20024:3>,<kuid2:212731:500024:2>,<kuid2:506034:121592:7>,<kuid2:169585:81012:3>,<kuid2:506034:12532:8>,<kuid2:203465:10335:3>,<kuid2:473973:100767:2>,<kuid2:473973:100763:3>,<kuid2:359354:100381:12>,<kuid2:328583:20420:2>,<kuid2:523:1427:3>,<kuid2:283805:26003:1>,<kuid2:212731:500026:2>,<kuid2:45324:85305:5>,<kuid2:212731:500025:2>,<kuid2:103021:10103:2>,<kuid2:212731:500023:2>,<kuid2:103021:10102:2>,<kuid2:212731:500022:2>,<kuid2:203465:10337:3>,<kuid2:203465:10336:3>,<kuid2:203465:10334:3>,<kuid2:124017:10112:3>,<kuid2:190611:200000:2>,<kuid2:151900:100039:2>,<kuid2:103475:10029:1>,<kuid2:45324:50221:5>,<kuid2:146087:27181:1>,<kuid2:122860:100909:2>,<kuid2:145599:100136:1>,<kuid2:124017:30013:2>,<kuid2:124017:10030:3>,<kuid2:103475:10030:3>,<kuid2:122860:101738:1>,<kuid2:103475:100095:4>,<kuid2:103475:15024:2>,<kuid2:103475:28016:2>,<kuid2:103475:15025:3>,<kuid2:103475:15014:2>,<kuid2:103475:10063:1>,<kuid2:98966:15467559:3>,<kuid2:87145:29051:2>,<kuid2:87145:28076:3>,<kuid2:53261:25001:3>,<kuid2:87145:28073:5>,<kuid2:57230:28072:3>,<kuid2:87145:28072:5>,<kuid2:87145:28066:5>,<kuid2:87145:28064:5>,<kuid2:87145:28062:3>,<kuid2:87145:10003:3>,<kuid2:86661:144043:3>,<kuid2:86311:45052:2>,<kuid2:84912:29270:4>,<kuid2:78193:40004:1>,<kuid2:74906:23029:2>,<kuid2:74906:23014:3>,<kuid2:74906:23013:3>,<kuid2:74906:23005:3>,<kuid2:61119:1500:5>,<kuid2:74906:23004:3>,<kuid2:72730:62011:3>,<kuid2:72730:61028:4>,<kuid2:57230:25008:3>,<kuid2:70030:25008:127>,<kuid2:69871:2078:2>,<kuid2:69341:24002:3>,<kuid2:69341:24001:3>,<kuid2:69038:40100:3>,<kuid2:69038:27218:3>,<kuid2:69038:27217:3>,<kuid2:69038:27215:3>,<kuid2:69038:27212:3>,<kuid2:69038:27211:3>,<kuid2:69038:27210:3>,<kuid2:69038:26002:3>,<kuid2:69038:26001:3>,<kuid2:5204:100066:2>,<kuid2:69038:25314:3>,<kuid2:68787:100425:2>,<kuid2:523:1573:2>,<kuid2:68787:21029:11>,<kuid2:68236:23279:2>,<kuid2:68213:26021:3>,<kuid2:61599:60006:4>,<kuid2:60349:21006:2>,<kuid2:60238:26184:1>,<kuid2:57344:80001:9>,<kuid2:57230:28320:3>,<kuid2:57230:28308:3>,<kuid2:53261:37010:3>,<kuid2:57230:28306:3>,<kuid2:523:1168:2>,<kuid2:57230:28304:3>,<kuid2:57230:28302:3>,<kuid2:57230:28031:3>,<kuid2:57230:28030:3>,<kuid2:57230:28000:4>,<kuid2:57230:25203:3>,<kuid2:44779:25021:3>,<kuid2:57230:25021:3>,<kuid2:44779:25020:3>,<kuid2:57230:25020:3>,<kuid2:44779:25009:3>,<kuid2:57230:25009:3>,<kuid2:57230:25006:3>,<kuid2:57230:25005:3>,<kuid2:56063:150811:5>,<kuid2:53418:24000:2>,<kuid2:53261:37026:4>,<kuid2:523:1174:3>,<kuid2:53261:37014:3>,<kuid2:53261:25231:3>,<kuid2:53261:25193:3>,<kuid2:53261:25180:3>,<kuid2:53261:25178:3>,<kuid2:53261:25138:3>,<kuid2:53261:25137:3>,<kuid2:523:1072:2>,<kuid2:53261:25136:3>,<kuid2:53261:25122:3>,<kuid2:53261:25089:3>,<kuid2:53261:25079:5>,<kuid2:53261:25078:3>,<kuid2:30501:1001:10>,<kuid2:53261:25065:3>,<kuid2:53261:25047:3>,<kuid2:53261:25002:3>,<kuid2:1776:300032:1>,<kuid2:51536:26112:3>,<kuid2:46162:15004:11>,<kuid2:523:23278:1>,<kuid2:45324:555246:1>,<kuid2:523:1206:2>,<kuid2:45324:100022:6>,<kuid2:45324:85318:3>,<kuid2:45324:85308:5>,<kuid2:45324:54002:7>,<kuid2:45324:50203:6>,<kuid2:45324:10116:5>,<kuid2:45324:10100:6>,<kuid2:45324:6408:5>,<kuid2:45324:6401:3>,<kuid2:45324:4402:6>,<kuid2:45324:4382:6>,<kuid2:44779:28003:3>,<kuid2:44779:25018:3>,<kuid2:44779:25017:3>,<kuid2:44779:25003:3>,<kuid2:35412:40062:2>,<kuid2:35412:38110:2>,<kuid2:30671:97209132:4>,<kuid2:9000:27605:1>,<kuid2:9000:27603:1>,<kuid2:5204:100077:2>,<kuid2:5204:100075:2>,<kuid2:5204:100073:2>,<kuid2:5204:100071:2>,<kuid2:5204:100068:2>,<kuid2:5204:100065:2>,<kuid2:1942:25038:1>,<kuid2:1942:25036:1>,<kuid2:523:1002:2>,<kuid2:1776:300010:1>,<kuid2:1776:300004:1>,<kuid2:523:1616161:2>,<kuid2:523:1482:3>,<kuid2:523:1333:3>,<kuid2:523:1216:3>,<kuid2:523:1209:2>,<kuid2:523:1208:3>,<kuid2:523:1204:2>,<kuid2:523:1171:2>,<kuid2:523:1112:2>
 
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