[Grombobulous]

If I was too busy building my startup while my Starbucks Frappuccino melted, Starbucks didn’t “steal from me.”

I understand living by your principles but in my experience, the process of running a pirated server/clients is enough of a pain that it’s not worth $30 of anyone’s time, even if it’s the second time you’ve had to pay it in the span of multiple decades.

[Tostino]

Ah, yeah...that's exactly the same thing. Great point. Totally changed my mind!

Edit: Your edit clarifies things a bit. Eh, I got my start in software development working on an emulated Lineage 2 server ~20 years ago, and eventually building my own server from the ground up which extended the game in ways that the normal servers / client didn't support. I think tinkering is fine if that's what interests you.

I don't spend much time these days with games (compared to the past) regardless.

[Grombobulous]

Is it not the same thing?

Microsoft has never revoked a Minecraft license (fraud/abuse notwithstanding). You just have to do basic account maintenance like keeping your email up to date and you had to respond to emails to complete one single account migration in 15+ years. Microsoft asked you to do one 5-minute thing in the span of 15 years.

I am a little surprised that someone who built their own startup is so opposed to the idea of personal agency. This seems like you’re taking a victim’s mentality.

If I stored my Myst CD-ROM in a moldy basement for 30 years and it got ruined that way I don’t get to complain about having it stolen from me. Clearly by my lack of action I didn’t care about that possession that much in the first place.