From my own experience, I agree that some virus products create the problems we pay them to cure. With the one I was using, as long as I continued to pay for my subscription there were no problems. If I didn't renew, then the problems started. Twice I let my subscription lapse. Twice I got hit with an infection.
Of course, I thought the problems were due to not having this wonderful product activated on my system. Turns out the problems were because I had this product on my system but hadn't renewed.