Just wanted to add to this.

The programs you download from the Gnutella network, is almost always ripped to get the filesize down, so you don't get the FULL version of the program. For instance, they always take away the helpfiles or tutor function, which can be very useful if you're new to the program.

If I had to rely on a piece of software in my proffesional work, I would never use one that I had downloaded off Gnotella.

And I will never use downloaded versions of operating systems or anti virus porgams either. I just don't trust them enough.

And the mp3's you download are fine to play on your portable, or if you're not very picky about the sound quality, but I have a very expensive sound system, and the mp3 sound quality just don't cut it. So I end up buying the CD at some point anyway(if I think it's an good).

Overall - the quality you get when you buy a program/music is much higher than the downloaded version, and you get support.

But I still download stuff to check it out. I won't pay $1000 for a prog I won't be using anyway after I've tried it out.
Maybe I'll buy it, or the next version of it, if I find it useful.