Most sites offering "cracks" or "keygens" are fronts for malicious software. The executable files used to "patch" the software often contain Trojans, miners (which use your CPU to mine cryptocurrency), or ransomware that can lock your personal files.
Platforms like Splice offer "rent-to-own" models for various plugins, allowing you to pay a small monthly fee until you own the software outright. Most sites offering "cracks" or "keygens" are fronts
Software like Geist 2 requires regular updates to remain compatible with new operating systems (like macOS Sonoma or Windows 11). Cracked versions cannot be updated through official channels, meaning they will eventually stop working. meaning they will eventually stop working.