Dear aadbuild,

I have read every single post carefully and see the points to both sides. From a person that has been an entrepreneur for over 30 years, I have learned a thing or two about being a tree that bends in the wind so when the storm comes, I am still standing.

Let me clarify, that I know "nothing" of programming but am beyond good at coming up with better ways to do things and am willing to spend $$ in an effort to accomplish this. That said, I stumbled across your software looking for a plugin that would provide a "simple" quantity takeoff from the components in SU. After looking at and yes being able to "try" the software plugins in extensions, I am not pleased with any of them functionality wise.

Let me also say, I will gladly spend a 1000.00 for your software because although I am sure I will find lots of things that could work better, I can find nothing even remotely close in any of the available extensions as good as yours.

I would also like to say comparatively speaking your software is a bargain. I own http://www.tradesmens.com/index which is strong in BOQ, 3D rendering, and weak in the ease of take off creation, Close to 10K purchase 700.00 yearly maintenance. I also own Chief Architect http://www.chiefarchitect.com/ which is great with take off creation, ok 3D, poor BOQ close to 3K purchase 445.00 yearly, and finally OST & Quick Bid http://www.oncenter.com/ FANTASTIC take off / BOQ, NO 3D ability close to 7K for both purchases 600.00 yearly.

Now for the nuts and bolts; You say you can't provide a trial because of the code crackers out there, fair point. Keeping in mind I know nothing about coding and cracks. I do know how the companies software I own, address the issue. Since other than your price being to high, which hopefully I have been able to give adequate examples to demonstrate, is not the case. The general thread consensus is, let me look under the hood, so to speak before I buy. OST has a default setting that after a few days, if I don't run the software with an internet connection, the software becomes unusable. It pings their server I assume to validate my license key. Tradesman uses a usb dongle that without; the software is not usable. Personally, I like CA internet option, the usb dongle is a hassle. FYI, CA used to use a dongle as well back in the day.

So you "can" have a look under the hood ability if you wanted to and virtually eliminate the crack option.

Last but not least, and this is the easy one.

These guys want the option to own and not lease the car after they look under the hood, which is understandable, I also fall into this group.

Simply charge 1000.00 for license key and "X" amount for additional keys "like everybody else does + yearly maintenance of "X". If you want "X" to be 1000.00 "fine", but the prior users if they so choose, can still use their outdated software if they do not to pay the yearly fee. One idea to encourage people to sign on for the yearly maintenance is charge 1000.00 a year. But if the software falls out of maintenance and somebody calls and wants lets say, 3 years worth of updates, you charge 3600.00 which is 200.00 per year extra. Tradesman software does this exact thing to encourage enrollment.

If you charge a 1000.00 license fee and a yearly 1000.00 current / 1200.00 outdated maintenance fee. Then if people choose to opt out and not stay current, they still can use the outdated software "as they should be able to" after all they did legally purchase it. The net result being you overcame a "major" obstacle / resistance that your market is responding with, you are not out and or diminishing your revenue stream, and you now are a proud member of the "tree that bends club" and hopefully will be able to stand even after the storms.

semper fi