Blueray Software questions.

My DigitalStorm PC was purchased last summer and included a Blue-Ray player and Cyberlink Blueray playback 8.0 software.

This worked fine for playing bluerays until about 2 months ago, when I rented a new release on blueray.

I was immediately hit with a pop up telling me that my software could not run this newer version of blueray and that I had to update my software to play it.

I attempted to do so, only to find that not only does 8.0 not have an update, but it is no longer supported either.

I asked around to family members and friends and they told me that they find it fishy that my blueray player wouldn't be able to play newer blueray disks and also fishy that my software for playing them would be discontinued, forcing me to purchase Cyberlink's newest software package.

What I want to know from those of you with experience in these matters, is:

1. Is it normal to have the software that came with my blueray drive discontinued?
2. Is it normal for me to have to spend $100 every 2-3 years for new blueray software?
3. Is it normal that I rented a blueray that seems to be a new kind of disk that my player can't read?

I mean what do people that own blueray for TV playback do? Do they have to buy new blueray players every 2-3 years just to keep playing new blueray releases?

Thank you for any and all responses.