It has more to it than just the IP address. I use a VPN for just about everything I do, I very rarely operate in the clear, and so from Paddle’s perspective I come from all over the place and nowhere in particular, but I’ve never once been deactivated. It probably has more to do with the configuration of the machine itself, and what type of network you are using, rather than which network, if that makes sense. Ethernet cable into a router one day, phone tether a week later, wifi at a coffeehouse a month after that—that’s probably more the factor. And whether that matters could depend upon the machine itself. Does all networking go through a central device on the motherboard, or does it have discrete components handling different cables and such.
If everyone that went out for a coffee to do some writing got disconnected we would see way, way more of this than we do. Statistically speaking this only happens to a small percentage of people—which would make sense if it requires more variables changing than just visiting the folks for the weekend and using their connection.
This is not unusual practice by the way, pretty much any software will deactivate if you copy all of its files over to another computer and try to run it. But what it seems like is that their trigger is a bit too sensitive, particularly in how it is packaged for the Windows version, and that’s something we’re working with them on.