best software for composing?

I never insinuated that the people who steal the software would never actually buy it if they couldn't steal it! I said if I couldn't get it offline, I wouldn't buy it because I CAN'T. How is that an insinuation towards other people? Why would you put words in my mouth? I was not making general statements. I was declaring the facts of my situation.

The fact that those companies decided to focus their funds on protection from piracy rather than developing the software is not my fault. That is a CHOICE that THEY made, not me. And since that can't be proven wrong, (since I don't run those companies) now please explain how I'm hurting those companies by not buying their software.

P.S. I'm not 'publicly promoting' piracy at all!! Did you even read my post? You are the one making general statements here, not me. I was talking about my own personal situation. Besides, I am not someone who buys a program then puts it on the internet for everyone to download, which I believe would be a closer definition of promoting piracy. I am just someone who cannot afford it on my own and would like an alternative.

I use Fruity Loops studio. A majority you would dislike it, however. It's more of a mixing/trance/techno type thing than Finale, but it has its strong points (and some very good ones, too!)

I never insinuated that the people who steal the software would never actually buy it if they couldn't steal it! I said if I couldn't get it offline, I wouldn't buy it because I CAN'T. How is that an insinuation towards other people? Why would you put words in my mouth? I was not making general statements. I was declaring the facts of my situation.[/b]

These were your words:

"But that's just like saying: if noone likes it, we're all wrong for not buying it, because that means money that isn't coming in, right? If people download the program from someone else, that's not taking anything away from the company! (at least in my case)"

Part of your statement was specific to you, but you did generalize it to a greater number of people. I simply showed that very common way of thinking has been proven false.

The fact that those companies decided to focus their funds on protection from piracy rather than developing the software is not my fault. That is a CHOICE that THEY made, not me.

They were forced to make that choice in order to slow down theft of their software from people doing exactly what you have done. If it weren't for people like you, they would not have done this. It's simple. This costs them money. This made their customer relations weaker. If it wasn't for the fact that they earned more money by stopping many thieves, they never would do this. And if it hadn't conclusively helped, they would have abandoned it, because it's still costing them money (they even have to pay for 24 hour phone registration services - not a small cost for a small company like MakeMusic or Sibelius).

I'm also paying some tax money to law enforcement that's wasted on people stealing software. People like you are affecting me, and I have a right to speak out or take other measures.

P.S. I'm not 'publicly promoting' piracy at all!! Did you even read my post? You are the one making general statements here, not me. I was talking about my own personal situation. Besides, I am not someone who buys a program then puts it on the internet for everyone to download, which I believe would be a closer definition of promoting piracy. I am just someone who cannot afford it on my own and would like an alternative.

You are promoting it. You are a forum moderator, and you are defending an illegal practice that you yourself claim to be participating in. By identifying yourself as a person who has stolen the software and defending it as an action that is justifiable, you are giving other forum participants an excuse to do the same. Don't tell me that you don't believe young minds ever succumb to the reasoning, "well, I'm not the only one doing it."

You know very well that you do have alternatives. MakeMusic provides a free program called NotePad. Your website has teamed up with Personal Composer. On various threads here people have mentioned many other alternative programs that are less expensive. Other people on this forum are willing to work with cheaper programs that are priced within their means.

Why don't you?