CheckBook 2.2 will be free for existing users of versions of 2.x, and you will see the update through the built in update mechanism.
We will be selling our products like we always have been, as well at selling them through the app store. If you want to have the app store manage your updates, you will have to buy the app again through the app store because Apple does not supply any kind of tools or ability for us to give existing customers any kind of credit or free download.
We will maintain a presence outside of the store mainly because we can continue to support users that are still using 10.4 and 10.5, we can get updates released immediately instead of a week or two later, along with numerous other reasons. I would list more, but it may turn into a rant. Here is a rant that has already been written and probably does a better job venting than I would:
http://www.iwascoding.com/2010/10/21/the-mac-app-store-apple-vs-developers/Another sticking point not mentioned in the article is that since Apple does not give us any customer information, we cannot contact or verify our own users in regards to support cases or updates. If you email us for help, we have to hope you mention which CheckBook version or product you are using because we can no longer look it up. This means we could also be spending time helping out people that never legitimately purchased the software, which is unfair and taxing to both us and our paid users.
Anyway, whats done is done... and to not have a presence in a the Mac App store would be unwise to say the least. We do appreciate the concern, but rest assured that we will continue offering our products like we always have and hope that Apple doesn't completely destroy the market outside of the Mac App Store. Where else would we get wonderful applications like VLC