Funny, but if you buy Waves plugin at the right time (discounts), they are actually not that expensive at all. I whas able to buy the Waves CLA native pack for allmost the same price as the Softube CL1b native plugin.
That's 3 (well, 4 actually) compressor plugins for the price of 1 compressor plugin. And somehow, I never read anything about Softube being so damn expensive.
I whas also able to buy the Waves API native bundle way below the price you see on the Waves website. I think the prices on the Waves website are not helping Waves at all, because in the real world, you can find 'm a LOT cheaper.
WUP is a different story, but then again, you can choose not to pay. The plugins from Waves are working for me, I'm not in need for an update or anything.
If you have Waves Mercury, WUP is not a problem at all, since you get all new plugins for just $200 a year..
However, don't think I'm totally in love with Waves, and that I hate Softube or anything.. that's not true, I just don't get it why people keep saying that Waves is expensive, while there are plenty of other plugin developers that have the same price point or are even more expensive.
Using warez is weird actually, because there are so many great plugins that are free of very cheap! Cytomic The Glue, DMG Audio EQuality, Bootsie plugins, Stillwell plugins.. to name a few.