That is ONLY because Apple makes the vast lion share of their profits from selling you HARDWARE, not software (unlike Microsoft). Thus, it is in Apple's best interest to both keep software costs low (promotional/advertising point against Windows) AND *NOT* give you certain key newer features UNLESS you buy their newer hardware. This "encourages" you to buy hardware from them more often than you would otherwise. This boosts Apple's profits big time. And since you have no alternatives for Mac hardware than from Apple, they get away with it. Your only alternative (other than hacking ala Hackintosh) is to abandon the Mac platform entirely and that means all your Mac software you've purchased over the years with it. This is because Steve will allow Windows to run on Macs (including virtualization) so that you can bring your Windows software library with you to ease transition to a Mac and run all that software that is unavailable for Macs, but Steve will NOT allow the same in reverse (i.e. to run Mac virtualization software in Windows so you could take your expensive copy of Photoshop CS4 with you to the Windows plaform; no you must buy a NEW copy of CS4 FOR Windows, etc. And forget about Final Cut Pro. It's not available for Windows and so to get out of Steve's scheme, you must abandon it entirely. Unfortunately, no company has been willing thus far to challenge Apple's "right" to not let you virtualize the OS on Windows. Well, Psystar has challenged similar licensing rights and the fanboys on here have demonized them to no end for it.
Personally, I'm a consumer advocate. I don't care about corporate rights. I'm for consumer rights. The greedy corporations have had their way for far too long as it is. Just look how the insurance companies (and also from their bribed political buddies, the Republicans) are demonizing Obama's health care plan before it's even finished. They state outright LIES and seem to get away with it. The public just eats fear up for breakfast. That also speaks to the knowledge and/or intelligence level of the average citizen that they don't immediately recognize that propaganda and fear mongering for what it is. No one likes the greedy self-serving insurance companies and yet somehow the Republicans have managed to get half of America to side with them. It's unbelievable. So I guess in a similar vein, I shouldn't be too shocked at how many Mac users side with Apple on issues where Apple is screwing the consumer (which includes them) over in the name of pure profit also. Most people are lemmings, IMO. They'd let the right person lead them straight off a cliff and never think twice about jumping. So sadly, getting reform in this country that favors the consumer (be it regarding anything from the one-sided DMCA that erased fair use for digital media to a company's right to tell you where and HOW you can use their product...say like with OS X) will require VERY charismatic individuals that can lead the lemmings to safety instead of off the cliff. Obama is pretty charismatic, but even he can't manage to dissuade people from the Republican mirage of hypocritical false piety and BS lies and that's on something that's really important like affordable and available health care. What hope is there to get consumer reform for something like "tying" violations by companies that just shout that they're too small to violate anti-trust agreements? Nobody cares. So unfortunately, your ONLY option is to either leave or keep paying Steve.
