Ugh, started writing a long tangent and then realized it was mostly bullshit.

I can think of a few possible reasons why people on the Mac side are so willing to pay for shareware:

-Differences in the software buying experience; PC users will go into a store and pull something off the shelf. Mac users (save those living near an Apple Store) generally don't get the same experience, so they normally *have* to find the appropriate tool online and, since you're not spending money in stores for software, are willing to part with it for shareware.

-Smaller warez community; while it's definitely there, there just isn't as much of a presence on the Mac side. Of course, since it's smaller, it's easier for the developers to keep up on it, and fight back - I know one author who, if you put in a pirate serial number, the video quality on his software gradually degrades over a few minutes until you're left with just snow. At some point you think, "Is it worth all this trouble when I could just pay $10 and be done with it?"

-Mac shareware companies are very human. I work for Freeverse; I talk to a good chunk of our customers on a daily basis. Our customers awww over pictures of my boss' new baby. Most every person in the industry I know is easily accessible via AIM, a forum, or at the very least email. You don't often get Faceless Corporation Syndrome, and I think that might lead people to make personal connections and be ready to shell out the cash more readily. It's harder to rip someone off when you talk to them on a semi-regular basis.