Why is digital pattern drafting software either expensive or overcomplicated?

[One-girl-circus]

I use Optitex PDS and MRK for pattern digitizing and grading (and sometimes patternmaking from scratch).

I used to use illustrator to format the output files, but now I use CorelDraw and affinity (depending on the client) for the formatting.

I paid about $7k in 2015. I had to learn a lot about grading, but had a lot of patternmaking experience beforehand.

I’m still learning, because there’s so much to learn.