In the past, most software I used was paid and proprietary and would have some sort of limitation that I would try to get around by any means possible. Sometimes that would be resetting the clock on my computer, disabling the internet, and other times downloading a patch.
But in the past few years I’ve stopped using those things and have focused only on free and open source software (FOSS) to fulfill my needs. I hardly have to worry about privacy problems or trying to lock down a program that calls home. I might be missing out on some things that commercial software delivers, but I’m hardly aware of what they are anymore. It seems like the trend is for commercial software providers to migrate toward online or service models that have the company doing all the computing. I’m opposed to that, since they can take away your service at any time.
What do you do?
A little after you, but similar. Over a decade of Linux as my primary OS for personal use. The effort of piracy or the cost of keeping up to date commercial software was just pointless. For a good chunk of uses, the FOSS alternative is good enough.
I get it for people with certain professional work-flows, there is usually commercial software that is pretty much expected. Unfortunately, most commercial software in professional use is already getting pretty good at extracting maximum profit from you. If it’s necessary, the more they can make you pay.