This isn't a sad story it's another example of developers being good at code but terrible at business. If code is your livelihood, treat it as such. Misplaced idealism is dangerous. Besides, doesn't giving someone a free game feed into their game addictions? Game pricing shouldn't be subject to some moral code. It's a game: if people don't like the price, they don't have to play.

This illustrates the problem with pirate software as well as pirate music and movies. People don't buy the cow if they get the milk for free.