Illustrator CC 2017 was the first version to fully embrace Adobe’s new "Universal Type" engine and the modern Properties panel. It was a stability-focused release. Unlike the radical interface changes of CS6 or the performance hiccups of CC 2015, CC 2017 offered a refined experience that Mac users demanded: fluid zooming, responsive anchor point manipulation, and reliable GPU acceleration.

A: No. CS6 (2012) was the last perpetual version. All CC versions, including 2017, require a monthly or yearly subscription.