I started with vcarve pro 5 back in 2006 (think that was the version).. Also got 3dcut and picture as well. But I hardly ever used those. Made the upgrade path to aspire but don't use it's advanced features much, but at the time the upgrade path (cost wise) was to good to pass up. I think those of us who started around that time and migrated properly got to Aspire for less cost then anyone. I do wish they would provide the latest ed vcarve pro to aspire users. As I would separate my 2.5D from my full 3d stuff by file type more easily that way.
All that said, would I pay what they are asking now? Well I would have to and it would still comeet with the list of best purchases I've made (those include MachIII as well as Dynomotion hardware and before that Gecko's)..
Ice. Perhaps you have a scale factor in your CNC control software making that happen
b.