MacHeist has announced their latest bundle. And, as with each previous iteration, discussion and criticism have ensued. I’d like to weigh in with some thoughts from a slightly different vantage point.

First, a very brief summary. The main accusation against MacHeist has been that it undervalues the work of Mac developers by offering their products for sale at a massively discounted price. Marco Arment describes this. Apologists for MacHeist point out the advantages for consumers (cheap goods) and developers (cash infusion). No one denies that the folks running MacHeist do very well themselves.

This criticism, careful observers of the Mac world know, has evolved over time. A couple of years ago, Gus Mueller pulled no punches in blasting the offering, but this year his Acorn (a wonderful program for which I’ve already paid the regular price) is part of the package. He says all his concerns about underpaid developers have been addressed. I’ll take his word for it. Elsewhere, John Gruber of Daring Fireball, a former critic, has since accepted advertising from MacHeist. Gruber’s not known for kowtowing; obviously his reservations have also been resolved. There is no doubt that MacHeist has made changes with each iteration. For example, developers are now paid a percentage of sales rather than a flat rate. As such, I can accept that these former gadflies feel their concerns have all been addressed, but that the shift in opinion coincides with money changing hands is nevertheless worth noting.

As for me, the whole thing continues to poke at a corner of my conscience.

First, it’s the organizers. Specifics are easily googled (start with MyDreamApp) and I won’t elaborate, but MacHeist isn’t the first experience these folks have had with ethical criticism and hurt feelings.

Second, I still don’t think it’s best for developers. Okay, I get it, they’re adults, they can decide what to do with their software, it’s their choice. Fine, but just because an adult with free will decides to go to a payday lender/loan shark to borrow money doesn’t mean that loan sharking isn’t morally bankrupt. It is. Even if there are people who’ve been happy with their loan shark experience. That’s not an exact analogy of course, but my point is that doing something of my own free will doesn’t rule out the possibility that someone’s taking advantage of me. In fact, isn’t that how con men work; deceiving the mark into freely making a bad decision. One might even argue that the ultimate con man is the one whose victim who doesn’t even know they’ve been had.

Third, in direct response to one of the apologies made in favor of MacHeist, I have actually already planned to purchase The Hit List and Espresso, so I cannot claim that a fraction of the retail price is more than these developers were going to get from me anyway. Nope, those are both right near the top of my Mac Software shopping to-do list.

Finally, Simone Manganelli sums up a part of how I feel. For me, his conclusion is true:

Fundamentally, what it comes down to is that those consumers who are participating in the MacHeist bundle are tightwads.

So here we are, MacHeist 3 has rolled around, and I don’t think any rational person would say it hasn’t gotten more fair to developers with each iteration, but still, as I outlined above, I won’t be buying it with a clear conscience. If you have no misgivings about doing business with this enterprise, then we can, as Arment also put it, respectfully disagree.

But here’s the rub. My conscience was really ablaze with the first MacHeist. Mueller and Gruber are folks I respect and their criticisms rang true. But guess what, temptation got the better of me. I bought the bundle. Great freaking deal for me, right? By MacHeist 2, I had listened to a MacBreak Weekly series of pros and cons, read some new opinions, seen the Daring Fireball ad, and felt that some of the issues had been addressed. Still, it didn’t feel quite right as I punched in my credit card number and made the purchase. Nice bundle, though. Great deal.

Now, round three, and, despite improvements, as outlined above, I can’t purchase this package with a clear conscience. But will I purchase it anyway?

I’m reminded of my all-time favorite Steve Jobs quote, in regards to “stealing” music:

People need to have the incentive that if they invest and succeed, they can make a fair profit. Otherwise they’ll stop investing. But on another level entirely, it’s just wrong to steal. Or, let’s put it another way: it is corrosive to one’s character to steal.

I’m not all that worried about the developers in this deal.

I’m certainly not worried about the folks at MacHeist.

I’m worried about me.