There have been orgainisations and individuals who hate Microsoft for what it is or for no reason at all, but still like the fact that any product (not just Microsofts) can and will be cracked or circumvented. Its not just the expensive mainstream products, sometimes software costing as little as $20 will have a key gen or serial patch made if the software proves popular.

Whilst its nice of Crownhill to make the forum available to everyone and not just its customers, and at a finacial loss according to Melanie, I suspect that there is some return where people end up making a purchase based on the support it finds in these forums be that a PIC chip or something more expensive.