Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the "student discount" version of Max expire (ie, stop working) after one year? So even though it might seem like a great deal, it really isn't that great. I'm not religiously opposed to commercial software, but I try to avoid it as much as possible. As for the sponsors of this competition, if they really are willing to accept submissions in PD provided the winner shows up in person, why don't they say so upfront? And if the winning submission is in Max, they don't have to show up? Seems a little disingenuous to me.

</End of my 2 cents>