What counts is the possibility to install an operating system and run an (old) EDA software,
because that's what this thread is about.
Actually, this thread is not about operating systems and old software.
This thread is about whether a program should be free to use forever,
once it has been purchased,
regardless of if the original publisher is still in business or not.
If the company disappears for whatever reason,
and is no longer there to renew the license or to replace a broken dongle then
the program can no longer be used.
Consequently products designed with the program can then no longer be supported.
So,
once purchased,
it must be possible to use the program without future dependancies of the publisher.
In most cases this is unfortunately not the case.
When shit hits the fan,
every single product (pcb's in this case) must be migrated to another CAD system,
possibly with the same type of shitty licensing.
That, is what this thread is (should be) about.