I Know Why They Feel They Have To Do It, I Just Don't Understand Why They DO Do It

I got a new computer at wrok about a month ago and recently went to install a Microsoft Product that had been installed on my old machine. Its a legitimate copy, holographic sticker and CD and all that jazz, so I figured it would be easy.

Well, after installation I run the application and it informs me that I need to register to fully activate the product. I choose the internet option and it goes off, queries some mysterious database, and comes back to tell me "This product has already been installed on another machine. Please register using the telephone" and then gives a bunch of numbers to call.

I ignore the registration warning for the first few times I use the application, but it keeps warning me I only have X number of uses left. Very annoying. So I bite the bullet today and call the number.

I'd have an easier time trying to break into a Swiss Bank Account. First I had to navigate the automated attendent. Then I had to give it a 50 digit code the application gives out doing 6 at a time (and getting trite encouragements from the attendent the whole time). After I finished that, it has the nerve to tell me "can't find it, please wait while I transfer you to support." Sigh.

Finally I get a person on the other end (in India I'm sure of it), and he asks a couple questions I could have lied through my teeth for, and then gives me the 50 digit activation code.

I could have been pirating software and simply lied through my teeth ("Yeah, my other computer was stolen, yeah, that's the ticket.") so this form of piracy protection seems like a big waste of time and money.