Well, I'm glad and sad that I saw this before buying. Glad because it saved me from the hassle of refunding. Sad because I've had serious respect towards Serif so far.
I was planning on buying the full bundle since I'm in a need of a layout software and Publisher would've filled that need.
I've also been using Photo and Designer for a good long while and wouldn't have minded getting an upgrade for both.
But, this whole apps instead of proper exe software is an absolute deal breaker. If I can't decide where software goes on my PC and what it does and when it does it, it doesn't go on my PC. With the exception of Windows because I use way too much software that is not natively supported on Linux.
So yea, unless Serif come to their senses and offer me a way to properly control the software I buy from them, I am not buying from them. And will not be recommending their software to anyone in the future, as I've thus far done to several organisations and individuals.
And I need to keep on looking for a layout and publishing software.