That's my point. The question is which fraction of users/businesses actually ever ask for support? And as long as error can be replicated on an activated install, I guess they could still get support.
I knew a number of companies who were using a handful of RedHat servers and many more running CentOS and whenever they encountered issues on a CentOS system they would just replicate it on a RedHat one before asking for support and sending logs. Morally dubious but contractually OK.
Liability would be to not purchase a license, not failing to activate it.
Only risk would be to not have suppport available.
You don’t get support on non-activated software.
You rarely get useful support from Microsoft anyway.
That's my point. The question is which fraction of users/businesses actually ever ask for support? And as long as error can be replicated on an activated install, I guess they could still get support.
I knew a number of companies who were using a handful of RedHat servers and many more running CentOS and whenever they encountered issues on a CentOS system they would just replicate it on a RedHat one before asking for support and sending logs. Morally dubious but contractually OK.