Stealing or marketing? (Score 2, Interesting)

In my experience the downloading of MP3's have served to promote artists, not to deprive them. This can also hold true when it comes to software. I am a professional designer who uses photoshop and the like at work, yet as a student I used warez versions simply because I could not afford the price of the software. Later, I land myself a job and ask the boss to buy those same packages for me to use professionally. Theft or promotion? If it wasn't for warez not a single designer would have enough experience to land their first job!