Unsure about notifications true meaning

I haven’t checked site using this plugin in some time, when i logged in a noticed notifications which appeared to be warnings of a needed update and to get the update I should install Pro version. Is that TRUE or a marketing plow.
I also see support has not been responding lately to customer requests, a customer is a customer, whether free or Pro. For a plugin with 100,000+ install this is Not Acceptable support effort, this does not bode well for this project and may mean there is an opportunity here for competition