Dave Winer has been whining about the current state of software development and how nobody wants to pay for software [here][here].

I pay $1 to ride the subway downtown. It costs $300 to fly to NY and back (two hours in the air). A cab ride to the airport -- $40. My monthly rent is in the thousands. Medical insurance about $10,000 per year. Everything costs money. So does software. Don't fool yourself.

Of course everything costs money. But I wonder if it isn't just a bit of a conflicting interest for Dave to think that people should spend more on software. He has been in the industry all through the heyday and continues to be invested in software. Of course he wants people to pay for it. I would certainly appreciate it; it's my business too. However, people will get what they pay for and they know that. But, like MP3's, software is easy to steal and even Microsoft's Herculean efforts to prevent software theft have not been fully successful. Furthermore, protecting software can actually give users an incentive to look elsewhere. So, quit whining, Dave. It's just annoying. You're voice is now becoming high profile and I don't think anyone wants to hear you snivel. 10:12:43 AM    comment []