Those plugin company's will use it as an excuse to hike their price up even more sure. I don't care if plugin company's charge 2000 a plugin and get ripped off back because of it.
Ok, this is where I feel you are not understanding the reality of this.
I do not see this as a price hike honestly. This particular $2000.00 plug in you are speaking of, is a software version of their hardware unit that has a similar price. I saw that thread myself.
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www.bswusa.com
Now think of how this works when selling a product. They are dealing with a very limited clientele that would actually even need or use this. It's not a run of the mill consumer product that has to reach a quantity of certain demographic to be profitable. It is a 'niche' product that will likely not be sold to millions, so that means the cost of development cannot be absorbed into quantity of sales. The same goes for any product or service to be real.
Bad analogy: Anyone can do drywall finishing with a few simple tools for under $100 you can get @ any hardware store. There is a company (Level 5) that sells high end production tools that can make the job at hand much easier. $4000 for a basic set of tools. Does the average consumer need this? Hell no, but the niche of professionals that are willing to pay for it, well they do. That market warrants the cost of the goods or services they desire.
So to say, 'screw those guys for charging so much' is really more of a misunderstanding of how supply and demand works.
And, as far as stealing any software, well I personally choose not to because I have morals. Hell, I bought Vocalign for I think $700 years ago. Many praised it and valued it. I maybe used it twice. Now it is $150. Did I make a poor choice? Yes. But at the time, I thought it was worth it. My bad. Now that they have covered their production costs to make the software, sure the cost came down. The software writers already did their job and have been paid. Now it is just updating to other software maintenance. I get that. That does not mean I should be pissed at them and expect it for free? Nope. That is stealing and not something I could ever do myself.
To each their own, some people think their parents owe them too...