That's a good argument, but the thing is that a lot of people don't have $800 to spend on PhotoShop, or $1,500 to spend on an engine. So, if they want to try to make a game they have to make do with, and learn how to work with, less expensive products.

If you go to the link below and click on the License tab, you'll see the price of the Indie version is $295, but you'll be quite limited in what you can do with the Indie version. For instance you can only use script with it, among other things. To really benefit from the engine you have to buy Commercial, which is $1,495.

But, check sections 3 and 4 of the license. You have to be very careful what you make, and what platform you make it for, or it will cost you another undisclosed amount. Your game can't be construed to be a simulator or virtual world (isn't that what a game is?), and you can't even make a starter or tutorial kit without extra charges.

If you're a team planning on putting out a AAA product, then you'd expect to pay that. But if you're a hobbyist or would like to try selling some little $5 game, that may be way out of your range. GS, and other products like it, are what those people will likely be buying.

So yes, they'll be doing their best to make the Mona Lisa with MS Paint, basically. It will take more time and effort, but if you want to dig a hole and you can't afford a backhoe, sometimes you have to make do with a spoon...

http://www.garagegames.com/products/torque-3D