Yes, it is a big problem and a very good business for some firms. I have 2nd hand experience with that thanks to my closest family. There is a partial workaround using a public or university library, which at least in Germany and most likely other European countries, seems to work. They tend to have many standards available and they can usually order more if you ask politely. At least bigger central libraries or those connected to a big university shouldn't have an issue with that. Of course, even so you may have to buy a standard (licence) because of the licence part. At least you know, what it contains before you think about buying the licence. It may be, you don't actually need the licence at all or can reduce the amount of the total licences you need.