Just make the OS available to everyone

I'm not a lawyer either, but having worked in US multinational companies there is a lot of emphasis on the anti-trust laws not being compromised.

Anti-trust laws though are designed in the US, and in most other countries around the world, to protect consumers from being forced to buy more to get the product they want. OS can probably be justified as enhancements, an upgrade from vinyl to leather to make the total package more appealing, but the Homestead will be a stand alone product/service. You have to buy the deluxe model to get the cheaper model seems questionable.

Those owners renting out OS sims of course wouldn't be happy, because at the moment it's impossible to buy an OS unless you own a full sim, I don't see how If people owning an OS for yheir own use would care if other people could or not.
Of course this could create a rash of misused OS sims as inexperienced owners run them harder than they should in prim script usage.

If the rate of sims vanishing is any kind of guide the OS sim market is plummeting and OS are being converted in full sims or simply abandoned. The rental appeal of OS is no longer there at the same level it was, particularly for the European estate owners who have 22% (?) VAT to cover as well. The current OS owners who are renting out could potentially make a win if the restriction was lifted.

If people with an OS are willing to pay the $125 a month, then the estate owners have the opportunity to sell the OS as a Homestead to them. LL will be charging $375, so anything under that is a competitive market. The resale value of the OS could actually go up, then the estate owners can reinvest in full sims if that's their choice, or just abandon but with some money in their pocket.

And on top of VAT is another 30% from the exchange rate for other counrties.

That's right so if LL sold us homesteads directly at least the estate profits would be cut out
S**t trickles downhill,LL is trying to make more money,estate owners are trying to make money and we renters take it up the bum.
I know estate owners have their own issues with this tier increase,and hardships,mine is just a renters point of view
We have a home that is being pulled right out from under us,no matter who is at fault and who started it all,we who rent will lose our homes
All we want given the fact the increase will go through is to be given the cheapest option to keep our homes and not pay anymore than we have to (base tier and vat and exchange rate)