I don't pirate to "try before you buy". I pirate because I can't afford the software, and I need it (want it?). But, I have purchased 3 rather high dollar 3D graphics programs that I pirated. I purchased them because I liked them, and when I managed to get the cash together, I wanted to make sure that the company that made them got some of my scratch. Sure, I could have only stuck with what I could afford at the time, but then I would only be using Truespace, and the other 3 companies (Truespace was what turned me on to graphic art, me and my brother purchased it back in 96, the other three I pirated before I purchased) would not have gotten any money out of me.
So to say it is total bullshit is not correct. Some of us really do purchase the software we pirate first. It just takes awhile.