> it was assumed people bought any software because they feared legal action rather than because they had no other way to get their hands on it With windows sp

> it was assumed people bought any software because they feared legal action rather than because they had no other way to get their hands on it With windows specifically a factor is that it is/was almost impossible to get a computer (PC/Desktop) without Windows license. Compared to that the number of potentially illegal copies was neglectable. And even for Office it was probably better that people use a copy from dubious source than a competitor so they don't find out that alternatives are good enough.