downloads of software

How stupid do software companies think we are?

I was shopping for some software for my new mac and doing this online. They have two options for buying their software. You can download it, or you can have a box (like normal) sent to you. One you get right away, the other you have to wait.

Here's the thing. When I originally put the downloaded version in my cart, it came with a recommended CD backup of the software already on the order...for an extra 16.95$.

Since when does a disc cost this much? Where are the savings for buying the downloaded version? It's the same price as the regular version (99.95$), so the only point that I would actually save money is in the shipping.

But here's the thing, if I buy the package version, for the same cost at the apple store, which I'll be at later today anyways, I'll get a "backup CD" and a box and probably a book, without having to pay shipping then either. And it's certainly not gonna cost 4.95$ (the cost of the 2 year extended download service) to get in my car and drive across town.

How about you give me a discount, since you are only selling your software, and not actually anything physicial that you have to produce and store. Say 10% maybe 15%? Then I actually have incentive to buy the downloaded software. I know it doesn't cost THAT much to download data, espically since you are already paying for the bandwidth to host your website.