i currently had a VC with 8 aps.
i started to add the first 3 with suscription, then the customer witout further notice add the other 5, witout doing nothing.
VC algorithm added the aps, and the aps were added to Aruba central controller.
we can change the name at the APS witout suscription. I havent tried change more things because we are happy with the template in the master AP.
i believe if for some reason you lost the Master AP and the new master has no suscription, you will lost the management via AC.