This is not true…in practice. LM sells the cheaper “academic” version as their consumer product (cheaper). They hide behind the ambiguity of their EULA. Do they need the revenue? Certainly not, but LM “knows” that consumers opt for the academic version.
Also, when third party developers (such as Rex, Orbx, Carendao etc.) are targeting the consumer base on the P3D platform, then P3D is just as much a consumer product as X Plane. How many professional “flight / training” schools do you think are by scenery, clouds etc.?
Not to mention that P3D has a strong relationship / advocates over at AVSIM
who helped to push P3D to consumers over the years.