I understand this. I didn't want to buy gs, too, because I'm still going to school so I simply haven't got the money to buy it (or there are things which are more important for me).
Then I thought once 'hey, there's a contest I could join... why not?!'
and that's how I got pro. I' sure, if I haven't had won this I'd still mess around the trial verion

So why don't you join the (next) contest?
You're talented so I think you've got quite good chances.

EDIT: just had a closer look at the contest entries and noticed, Wjbender == Johannes Bender??; if so, good luck