wondering why .... bad luck!
4.8.1 is not new.
if you go to
http://www.limewire.com/english/cont..._history.shtml
you will see it was released 9 Mach 2005 I know... not long ago but in computer development language that's about ten years
$28 US is not a huge amount, is it? I don't know the Ex rate but yes there's the principle of the thing!
4.8.1 was, by all reports, an excellent version
HOWEVER >>>>>>> Your copy may have been infected with spyware or something like that and hopefully you will have checked that it is clean in that respect
The new version is 4.9.30 well it was yesterday.
and, as I imagine you already know, can be obtained from
http://www.limewire.com/english/content/download.shtml
basic free, pro $US 18.88 with six months free updates and technical support.
I hope this helps