[yardie]

As a Mac user I don't believe Apple users are susceptible to buying junk. Apple users are more spendy, on average, than a typical Windows users but there is a wide chasm between well designed, simple software and junk.

The typical Windows user won't use more than what came with their PC on the day they bought it. Ever wonder why Dells, HPs, and Gateways come loaded with a lot of crap software? It's because ISVs know that your typical user won't spend more than he has to. If it comes with the PC and it's good enough than they'll use that. But that user will rarely head back to the store to search for an alternative.

When software is well written it's perfectly fine to show the developers some respect by paying for it. That's why the Mac shareware community is in much better shape than the PC side.

[jz]

Ever wonder why Dells, HPs, and Gateways come loaded with a lot of crap software? It's because ISVs know that your typical user won't spend more than he has to. You are forgetting that Dell, HP, etc get kickbacks from the software companies.

[yardie]

You can take your chances with retail and hope someone is curious enough to pay for it or you can pay an OEM to include it and atleast the curious part will be satisfied.

Whether it's shelf space or disk space ISVs pay for it.