not exactly, not that its ok, but if i download a cracked version of 3dsmax that doesnt mean that if i didnt download it, they would have gotten me to buy the $3.5k program. On the same token, originally when i got 3dgs, i was 15 and got a cracked version of a6, darkbasic and a couple other engines. the reason for this is because i couldnt buy every one of them to see which was better. if i had not I'd never have bought a6. granted i still feel a little bad about it, it was wrong, but not necessarily inhibiting a sale.

This is not needed. There are evaluation versions of all these tools available. And even if you say "they would not have gotten me to buy the $3.5k program" they will ask for this money if they find this copy at your PC. At least this is what I read about Conitec. If they catch a warez user then he has to pay for the software and for the lawyer.

like i said, i dont deny it was wrong, but a 30 day evaluation does not necessarily give enough time, i like conitec's current setup with lite-c free, wish it used to be like that. Again, not a good thing to do, but it doesnt necessarily mean that the company is losing money if i do it.

Because software is over priced!

Hey send me your brand name jeans and i will pirate them for you at a price

You probably did not understand the markets. An overpriced tool cannot exist for long. Software is quite flexible and if you overprice your tool then another one will create a similar one. Actually you already find that everywhere.

Is Blender overpriced, or Wings3d, Silo, Lightwave, Modo? No, absolutely not. Maybe XSI or Max is overpriced but you dont have to steal it. There are enough alternatives. You are not making a blockbuster cinema movie. You even do not have the man power to do so. You just want to model a low poly object.
Most of the Max users here in the forum just create boxes and chairs. They could even use MED for that.

The reason is another one: People have no idea about the power of certain tools. They just follow some trends. And they believe a software can do the magic for them. So they also believe the most expensive tool will do the most magic. We all know that this is not the case in the fields of art. You have to become an artist, not a tool-user.

And what about games? Are they overpriced? I dont think so. I can get games for a budget price of 5-10 bucks.