They bend over backwards to facilitate their 'content-providers' needs (read DRM) at the expense of the consumer's-'needs'
Well, if so many 'consumers' didn't use knocked off software/content, there wouldn't be any need for DRM. Piracy has had companies by the balls for years now. Its pirates that have backed them into a corner and forced them to bite. AND expensive, multiple versions for the same OS? Come on!
You don't have to buy every version. You choose the one that best suits your requirements, and buy that. There's no need for this!
No need for companies to protect their IP? Or no need to charge for operating systems? Either way I disagree. We're talking about companies, not charities.