> They require either A. OS X to be hacked to run on the machines (aka: your pirated copy)
Hacked != Pirated.
I am planning to use a hacked MacOS X for IPhone development and I will buy the OS. That's fine, I can pay for the software.
I simply can't afford their overpriced desktop hardware. (The iPhone is reasonably cheap compared to their desktops).
Edit: I don't know why this has been down voted. Maybe I should say that what adds to Apple's desktops cost, besides their premium for the brand, is the importation tax for items over $500 here. As high as 60%. With this tax, I can simply buy the software and assembly the hardware from commodity parts myself.