First of all, I don't understand why you're making such a big deal out of my post. It was neither an accolade nor a complaint (save for the shipping costs). It was simply a statement.
Granted, the first shipment of books (one such shipment in my case) was likely more than $10.00, but the point I am making is that even with the initial shipping cost and the follow up shipments of disks only, there is no way the company spent $90.00 last year for shipping. There is more involved, we are paying for the packaging time as well as the shipping. And, of course, this year it'll be $99.00, that's outrageous.
As far as my ignoring the FACT that they are adding features, I don't know that they ARE adding features. My GUESS is that with the new acquisition many of the beloved features will disappear. Of, course, the user won't know that any features are missing until they purchase the program.
When your primary product is ProSystem fx that is many times the price of MAX and has ALL the bells and whistles, it makes sense that you, as a company, would not want to provide an alternative (MAX) that also has all the bells and whistles at a much lower price. Your alternative then is to eliminate some or all the bells and whistles (features) in the less expensive software to encourage you to purchase the more expensive package. So, yes, I'll be looking around for another software package, although, I haven't made any decisions at this point. It is simply prudent for my to do some software research. Anybody who has not lost faith in ATX and desires to continue their relationship, hey, have at it.
I began investigating ATX in 1998 and purchased my first MAX in 1999. I have seen dramatic improvements in that time. I have also seen the unparalleled response to issues of users. This sort of history has earned ATX a great deal of trust and product confidence. But, you know, whatever they have earned over the years was entirely lost with one act, the abrupt removal of the forum. The lack of notice of the termination of the forum to ATXers shows a total disregard for the customers and is probably indicative of an attitude of which I want no part. The trust is gone the confidence I once had in the product is also gone.
