In my experience (and just last week I was analyzing statistical packages for analysis of medical research data in the line of my day job) demos do no work like the full version is supposed to. Of the half dozen or so packages I looked at, not one of the demos worked. I contacted all the publishers, and the three that got back to me assured me that while the demo won't work for my systems, the full version definately will, just send them my money. Sure.
I use windows 2000 (SP3 until last week) at the day job, and Windows XP and Office XP at the day job and home, and have never once had to activate anything. I wouldn't use it if it did. All my software is legally licensed.
Tell YOU what. Look at my web page.
http://www.jordanmills.com/. Check out the last couple of lines. I have coded killers for several very expensive applications out there, and they're all GPL. Free source and everything at your fingertips. I've had this company for a couple of years now. So, considering? Oh, and before you say something about nonexistant tech support, the email I sent immedately before reading your reply was the latest in a user who a, reported a bug to me (that got fixed in five minutes) and b, wanted to make one of my programs do something it wasn't made to do, but I'm helping him do it.
I've searched google. Probably more than you. I can't find what I need that I know will work. "Inexpensive" doesn't cut it. I'm tired of being nickled and dimed for shoddy software.