Hi everyone - truly appreciate all your comments and ideas.
In the case of one of my clients, their company accountant has over-ruled my concerns and insisted they put their data online. So-be-it. I'm tired of trying to point out the shortfalls of the online version. As for my other clients, I'm still happily using V19.16 desktop version and will do so for as long as it lets me confirm automatically. For those with employees I use the online version for their payroll only. Sure - it means double entry in STP2 compliant version and 19.16 but happy to do this to keep their data where they want it.
I was told by MYOB in no uncertain terms my 19.16 would reach end of life in December and whilst I have no data online, I wont be able to confirm my files anymore. I'll address that for all my other clients when it happens.
Totally disappointed that after some $24k spent in membership and subscriptions since around 2003, MYOB has abandoned small bookkeepers and BAS agent like myself. I promoted and recommended the product to my clients, but never purchased for them and on-sold. That's not the way I run my business.