>I don't see how the office XP situation is not applicable here, it
>is implemented by microsoft to ensure that they are paid for work that
>they have done to benefit the consumer.

Okay, in an indirect way I guess I could agree with that. What strikes me as ironic is that Microsoft was probably the first company to do away with copy protection schemes, and now it comes back full circle. Granted, it's not as intrusive as shoving a 5.25" floppy into a drive, and hoping the floppy hasn't gone bad, but the principle is the same.