i think it could be cheaper yeah but you have to think about the development team etc and money put into it, i agree a lot of software could be cheaper but with all the piracy its never going to egt cheaper as theyl have to charge more to make a profit from it.

I personally think using copied stuff when you first get into it isnt as bad as 1) your not making anymoney from it and 2) you might deside its not for you after 6 months

but ive got to the point now were i feel compitent enough with a sequencer and using it enough to actual invest in a package i can use in the long run, and plug in instrument wise i think the prices ar every reasonable at the moment, take that vanguard synth thats just came it, its less than 100 quid i think, like 60-70 and for that your getting a cracking little vst for dance music, trilogy is about 130 or something which i think is decent too.

admitidly the professional packages aer expensive but i think there aimed to make profit and a professinal will have the funds and the need to purchase it if its a good programme, theres loads of quality budget and even some good free software out there now though, i think the cubase sx im getting is 270 or something, thats a great price for what you get.