Next MorphOS version: 3.0! (Not 2.8)

[pVC]

That being said, once I do buy a beefier system than the mini's, I'll likely keep my eyes open for an even beefier system if I enjoy the experience.  I have no intentions on selling any of the HW, but don't want to register and pay for an OS multiple times and only end up using one instance of it, you know?

Well.. OTOH, you get free updates with MorphOS. On other systems you might have needed to buy paid updates multiple times for the _same_ hw while waiting that beefier system on MorphOS... for the same money you could have several usable MorphOS machines and still get them all updated if you want even if they all aren't used primarily anymore. Who knows if you want to get them back to MorphOS in some point anyway and that doesn't cause any problems with this scheme. With paid updates they surely would get obsoleted faster, if you have to buy updates for all machines separately.

[pVC]

I haven't paid a dime for any updates with OS4.  I can decommission any Windows license easily between hardware, locking out the previous hardware.  I am not trying to be a dickhead, I want answers.  One guy from the MOS camp said "it may be possible if you can prove your mac died in a fire", the others say "no", or simply won't respond.  I'm not trying to screw anyone, I want to pay for a product I like!

Weren't 4.0, 4.1 and isn't 4.2 paid updates? And can you transfer your OS4 bought for AmigaOne for Pegasos2 use for example?

And what would be a good way to lock out the previous hardware? Any need for online interaction when installing is absolutely no-no. With this kind of small business you can't trust there will be services available "forever". Blacklisting machines in next updates won't stop machine being used with current and earlier versions and might need too much work to kept updated... but I guess that would be only reasonable option...

Anyway, if your previous machine breaks down, it's known that keyfile can be transferred to next machine.

Again, the problem being is I have a nice Mac Mini sitting here I would love to register MOS on for the interim, but I know I will end up wanting MOS regged on a more powerful system not long after.

If it has 64M vmem and you're not interested about PowerBooks, I'd say go for it, register and enjoy Or get the PowerMac G4 you know will be powerful enough and register for it. But if you're waiting some other new powerful system like G5 macs, it's not going to happen in that "not long after" time for sure. You know your options for next couple of years and I think it should be enough to make a decision to reg the system you like now.

[pVC]

Anyway, if MOS was really so popular that people want to pirate it then it would have been cracked by now.

Although MorphOS probably has the best copy protection any Amiga product ever has had. And as there aren't any active crackers left even in classic Amiga....

But anyway, it would be silly to claim that there wouldn't be interest for pirating it. People pirated AOS3.5/9, Amithlon, MorphOS 1.5, some OS4 versions etc, why wouldn't they do that still. Many still use Amithlon etc and only fraction have actually bought it. Lots of people having Pegasos systems with MorphOS 1.4 still.. I bet we'd have many of them using 2.x if it would be possible anyway without costs. Only thing preventing it is that it isn't cracked.

I bet there would be something like 10x more users and 50% less registrations if it would be available freely (cracked or legally), but it's up to developers what they want. Illegal copying never ends if it's possible, no matter how small the community gets. People like to use systems because they like to use it.. it has nothing to do with honesty. Some percentage just want to do it legally and some don't or just can't (afford to).

BTW. how reliable those USB dongles would be... you can't make backups of them like you can with the keyfile. Suddenly your system is useless if it breaks down or you lose it. And if there wouldn't be any service from the team anymore etc..