how do I free trial the new features, now my licence has expired ?

[handrawn]

can someone explain to me how, now my update service has expired, I can run a free trial of the new features in subsequent updates - I have tried this for the 25July update [my licence expired 04July] but it will not let me, I get the messages attached below

I sincerely hope I have not received 12 months of patchy updates, in advance, at the price of not being able to test out new features without paying for an update licence first - ie goodbye to free trials

Ok in my particular case I could sandbox a virtual computer - but I shouldn't have to, and nor should anyone else.. so what am I missing?

thanks