General Beef with Purchasing Photoshop (CS5)

Question

I have a beef regarding Adobe and Photoshop, we are all quite aware that Photoshop is the most illegal downloaded program.  Adobe is not very friendly when it comes to first time orders of Photoshop, you would think that for first time orders of Photoshop Adobe would offer anything like $200.00 back or the next version of Photoshop you can upgrade free there is no incentive to buy the program.
I know that you don't have to upgrade to every version you can get away with skipping one, two or even three versions of the software before you should upgrade if used quite often.  Then there is Elements but what if someone wants the full Photoshop not a slimmed down version of Photoshop ? There left to buy Elements because it's cheaper and when they have to upgrade it usually is just another $100, therefore after upgrading Elements every year for three years you've only spent about $300-$400 rather then $1,500 for Photoshop over three years, including two upgrades and that is going by the assumtion you upgrade each year for three years but in reality most don't as mentioned.
I wanted to write this up becaue it is a concern that Adobe should be aware of that I'm sure many would buy the Software like you or I have, whether it was used or new especially when new.

Answer 1

I wanted to write this up becaue it is a concern that Adobe should be aware of that I'm sure many would buy the Software like you or I have, whether it was used or new especially when new.
Well, unfortunately, we are 99.9% users here. The few Adobe Employees are engineers, and not in marketing/sales and are very busy with their "day jobs." I would strongly suggest that you use the Contact link at the top of each page, to get in touch with Adobe directly and tell them how you fee.
Also, most of the people here are either professionals, earning part of our living with Photoshop, or are serious hobbyists, who feel that Photoshop is the best possible program for them.
Many of us also own extensive Adobe suites, so upgrading is probably about 4 - 5x as expensive as it would be for a user with just a single PS license. For us, it is a cost of business.
I do agree that one does not need every upgrade version. I started with 2.5 and got them all, until 5.5, which I felt that I did not need. After that, it was every version through CS2. From there, I held off, because I needed to justify a new PrPro, AI and AE. It looks like I will jump from CS2 to CS5, missing CS3 & 4. Never missed two versions of any Adobe program, since I went from about AI 2 to 4, but that was decades ago.
While I would not mind Adobe offering me free, or cheap stuff, I do not expect that. Though I have been a loyal client for most of their products for decades, it would be neat, but I do not expect it. It' like my Toyota Landcruisers - been an owner since the early '80s, and have had a string of 'em. Toyota has never called, offering me a free Landcruiser. Now, I do not upgrade those, like I have with PS, but have not had a need.
Let us know what Adobe Sales/Marketing has to say. Maybe if you make your point well, then they will give us all free, or cheap copies of PS?
Good luck,
Hunt