I do agree actually about the creativity part. If you can't afford the software or whatever then i don't think it's that bad at all. It's when people can afford the software, or can find the music elsewhere is when i think it's blatently taking the piss. I think that anyone who takes their music seriously would pretty much say the same, if anything, a lot of people encourage the use of pirated software to increase the creativity in music and i don't think it's just techno culture that takes this attitude.
Doesn't mean this is the right thing to do though, saying that not being able to afford the software is an excuse to pirate is a bit liike saying if you can't afford a car you should go out and steal one.