[danans]

> They've taken their pound of flesh,

As an aside, "pound of flesh" doesn't mean "payment", it means "something that is one's legal right but is an unreasonable demand (esp in the phrase to have one's pound of flesh)", both in Shakespeare and in current usage.

Unless you feel Microsoft's price is unreasonable and you have no other option, "pound of flesh" isn't the right expression.

Something like "they've taken their cut" is more accurate.

[xorx]

Thank you for the aside!

Too late to edit, though.

[danans]

Thanks for hearing it out!