Why can't I just buy and download? Why not make it simple and easy for people to access it?
If you're running Windows 7 Home or Home Premium, or don't already have a copy of Windows 7 at all, then what they're selling on their website isn't for you. You'll need to pick it up from a 3rd-party retailer for now. The fine print does suggest that they'll start selling all editions on their website in February. (Maybe they had some sort of agreement with retailers or OEMs?)
In shopping around, I've seen the System Builder edition from a local big box retailer for as little as $80.
Anyway, I just ran through this process at work. I downloaded the executable. Purchased Windows 8 for the price shown, $39.99.
It took me through some steps. At the end, it gave me the option to create an ISO. I have done this and will try it later tonight when I get home to see if it lets me do a clean install of Windows 8 on VMWare.
"Each upgrade license applies to only one PC and you can install the upgrade only on PCs that have a valid base license and one of the following operating systems: Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP (SP3)."
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/terms-condition...
During the upgrade process, you have the option of reformatting the hard drive and doing a "clean install", but it must be on the same disk that already has Windows installed on it.
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-w...
Then my co-worker got me to mount my ISO in VMWare, run the installer in Windows 8. It asked for the key. I put it in. It activated... I think. Successfully. I used it all weekend so far, without any issues, except I can't figure out how to use it, haha.
I believe this is the lawsuit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Windows_Vista#Vist....