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My opinion is that the real reason of the existence of the actual model of installation was to prevent people from making a copy of an installed software. Maybe it was even more important before the internet to prevent people from copying the most expensive software at their work, library and school. Now it doesn't really matter when the original install CD is easier to get from a torrent site.



Casual piracy is easily stopped, you could argue that it's already been 'solved' with online activation.

For hardcore pirates, it doesn't matter really as they'll find a way to get their booty with or without the 'install' procedure.

You can still have an application that doesn't install, but uses activation to ensure it's the only copy running.




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