nightcraw1er.488: From what I understand, you have to make your ps console the one linked to the account. From that one console you can play and access without logging in to ps store. If you install to another machine then you need to login to your account t any time you want to play. If your hardware changes, or you get a new console, then you remove the old one from your account and setup the new console as your main machine, then you can download the games and play without logging in.
Also you don’t need uplay or any of that rubbish, just the ps store which is why I went that way.
Not sure what forward compatibility (ps 5) is like as yet.
So yes, if you buy a new console or upgrade the hd (I have a combination ssd/hdd2fb in mine) you need to set that as your main machine and then your good to go.