Just my $.02 here. I think that cracks can hurt the industry, BUT, I also think that cracks serve a purpose. I've used FMP, for instance, in businesses. The first copy I used was a COPY, from a friend. Once I learned it a bit, liked, and decided I wanted to use it, I ended up paying full price for it, plus 3 upgrades.
With Photoshop I used a crack, I learned it, then bought the full version.
and, with Cubase, I tried a crack of SX 1, then bought SX 3, once I learned it a bit.
I think companies are trying to walk the fine line, they give LE away for free with hardware, some offer feature limited trials, etc. At the end of the day, every person who uses Cubase, whether a cracked version, a freebie lE version, or a full retail version helps Steinberg. They grow the user base, and the people who are professionals or serious amatuers will pay for a full version eventually.
I know I sound like I'm taking the pirate's side, and in a way I am, but I think we beat up on people who are trying things out, and will eventually become paying users.
Would our guy here have paid for a full version of Cubase if he couldn't get a crack? Maybe, but probably not. Now, if he learns it, gets good, there's a very high chance that he will buy it, or the next version.
I've been down this road many times, and it always ends the same way. You start out with a free trial (LE, Trial version, Crack), then if you like it and it works for you, you buy it eventually.
(Not to imply that bewildered is a pirate, since we don't know, but you get my point)