Yes, I understand the Ilok issues.
Yes, I understand their individual plugs are high.
Yes, I understand their WUP is weird.
Yes, I understand some of their plugs are outdated.
Yes, I understand in the larger bundles there are some not-needed plugs
But…look below. I sought to compare comparable products for a small home studio to get by with the basic essentials. I understand you can do similar comparisons and I am not trying to wave the Waves banner or start any arguments here.
Kjaerhus has a nice full package - sounds are great but… no verb.
Gold Bundle - no verb
$427.00
Voxengo has many great plugs and variations in packages but to get all the essentials (EQ, comp, chorus/delay, limiter, verb, etc.) you could spend close to $450 or more - for example…
Pristine Space $118.00
The CurveEQ, Elephant, Soniform, Transmodder package $ 209.00
Analogflux $ 79.00
Marquis Comp $ 89.00
$ 495.00
Now look at a Waves combo package...
Waves Musicians Bundle II
Super Tap, Ren EQ, Ren Comp, RenVox, Doubler = $150.00
Waves Native Power Pack
Trueverb, Q10 EQ, DeEsser, L1 Ultramximizer+, S1 Stereo Imager, C1 Para Compander, IR-1 Verb, Raxx = $350.00
Ilok - $ 40.00
Total for Bundle II and Power Pack and Ilok is $540.00
Now - here Waves is reasonable - you get 13 useable plugs for just $100 more than the other 2 (depending on the variations).
And yes, I understand all ears are different.
Later
I think they're outdated, outpaced and out alltogether. Nowadays, for many of their plugs, you can find an equal if not better freeware or cheaper alternative. There was a time when I'd say that RCL and L2 were the best, but those times are water under the bridge. There are so many alternatives to each of those plugs that for some I still cannot decide which one to use. 
