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[murnau]

murnau, no need for personal attacks

+1

Well, at least i have the balls to say things straight out and don't need to hide attacks behind unnecessary quotes.

[murnau]

murnau, no need for personal attacks

+10

Wow, now it's even +10..

[e@rs]

^I think they invented it specially for you.

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

And my view is all that matters to me. This whole issue is almost an ideological/philosophical question. I don't like the whole modern attitude of trying to get as much as possible as cheaply as possible. I am an older guy, that grew up in the analog, hardware world, where the price related more or less directly to the value. Even with software I think that it takes hundreds of hours to make a good plugin, so the developer should be rewarded accordingly. And if they themselves don't think their stuff is worth a certain price, why would I use it?

I am also an 'older' guy, and grew up in the same hardware world. I used to sell hi-fi, tv's etc in central London back in the 80's. Sales, and various promotions, happened frequently, often heavily discounting products that people had paid full price for the day before, and would go on to pay full price for, the day after. I also enjoyed blowout sales, such as those that happened at 'The Soho Soundhouse' etc.

Comparing hardware to independent software developers doesn't really work. A small software developer, working solo, is able to make more fluid decisions about the cost of their final product, given that the nature of their final product only exists in one 'real-world' incarnation, and then distributed in ones and zeros through the ether. This is not as easy to do for hardware objects that have to exist, unit for unit, for everybody that wants to buy one, and yet hardware blowout sales still happen

As for ideologies/philosophies: These are codes which are personal to each of us. We should act on our own ideologies, and philosophies, whether others are supportive or not. If it is your philosophy to not buy sales items, and to always ensure that you pay list price, by way of supporting the developer, then you keep doing that regardless of how others behave. But it seems your support comes at a price i.e to dictate how a developer might decide to run his business, lest you remove all future support for his company. Furthermore, you then cast shade on others from taking advantage of these gifts, sales etc, as though we're all just out for what we can get, and have no appreciation for the true value of things. This is the nastier side of philosophies, ideologies etc - when people use them to 'lord it' over others. I don't believe that was your intention, but maybe you can see how it seems like that. Bottom line is that you got to practice your philosophy by purchasing at full price. Why should it matter what happens after?

These kind of blowouts/sales/give-aways have always happened, whether it be music equipment or sofas. There are many reasons they happen. And yes, some are loss-leaders to lure people in to spend on other products. In this case, I think it was truly meant as a gift. But, even if it wasn't, why would we begrudge an independent developer a normal means to sales/business growth?