one way to look at it. i think partners can use the 'productivity apps of msft' to create their own ip based on the productivity apps. said productivity apps are not changed at the whim of msft to block the partners' creations/upgrades thereof. wags.
the security is important and is derived from other licensed ip, therefore, not bundled with it.
the stabilization of the 'office 2024' could be a step in the evolution of the productivity apps....nothing would prevent an office 2025 or 26 or 28 or other version with perpetual license..but this is my take on it and your's is as good as mine.
making office 2024 locked in time, will allow a version of it and ip based on the specific locked version to be known, registered, and the partners can dev op in accordance without wasting money on a deadend development.
might be a reason msft determined as blocking the adoption of w 11 from w10?
i think that this perpetual license/version is also a way to satisfy regulators/partners/competitors.
if '2024' becomes outdated, msft comes out with another locked in time....the key would be what is considered security ip upgrades? their license should spell it out.and then contract litigators could eyeball it...include generative ai analysis.......as shorters will be employing same.