Activation Server Retirement

"appears their only recourse is to periodically scan Adobe's site for clues that a large, ugly shoe is about to drop" No, that would be pointless. There was no advance warning that CS1/2 or CS3 servers were to close down, and no notification that it happened. Only scanning the forum for angry/confused people will tell you. 

The seeds of this were sown in 2004 when Adobe introduced activation. Nobody seemed much concerned, but it seemed inevitable to me that one day this would happen - why wouldn't it? The time to vote with your feet was 16 years ago; it seems to be a fait accompli now that software companies can limit the life of software by plan, by accident, or by random decisions. 

I was always puzzled how the people who stuck with CS6 "to run it forever" really thought that would play out. You can get off the bus, but the bus doesn't wait for you. 

Not True before the Activation servers where taken down Adobe made a CS3 Installer that installed  a CS3 version that does not require activation to function.  They made this  CS3 version  for their  old CS3 customer that still required CS3.   Adobe made a Web download old CS3 users could download using their CS3 serial number to gain access to the download and were given a new serial number required the install the download CS3 install.   Adobe has since removed the download from the Web.  CS3 has no support it life is over.  It Also a 32Bit application that can not run on current Mac systemss and can not utilize Windows PC well for the is no 64bit version.    R.I.P. CS3....

Adobe did this once before also for the CS2 and CS users they made a CS2 install that does not require require activation.  I can not remember how I was notified.  I have always kept up to date with Photoshop so I would have known about the download when they became available.   CS2 is so old its not worth trying to use on Windows 10.

There was no notification. The closedown was 5 years after support ended. Adobe have not said that is a plan (if it is a plan, CS4 is 2 years late for shutdown). 

Come on, CS3 was 13 years ago 😉

There was plenty of informations on any kind of communication channels by Adobe… Does CS3 even work on a new Mac/PC?