If a person already has an Apple computer, MS is no brainier. That's the reason the first thing that I did when I was given an Macbook Pro, was to pay $29 to get MS. However, I'll say that for those who do not already own an Apple, the price of the software is hidden in the Apple hardware. I didn't know about the lifetime updates for Logic. A great deal. That's pretty tempting. I can resist everything except for temptation... Kidding aside, I fully agree with you on Apple's extreme pricing policies. Now their fees for repair is so high that you might as well buy a new device or buy Apple Care according to a website called Mac Cult or something. Someone says you are better buying insurance for your Apple devices. Cheaper. Even "blind" believers are waking up. I was talking to a die-hard Apple fan boy yesterday. He said that he doesn't want to support Apple anymore.