I know that piracy for ArchiCAD always was sensitive subject. Early versions of ArchiCAD had very strong protection with hardware key, I also know that in version 7 protection was so strong that been giving possibilities to create really "uncrackable" software (that as I understood Graphisoft never used on all 100%).
Anyway - pirate versions of ArchiCAD existed always, people been using them, using now...
From one hand - if software is available free of charge - it increases amount of users. From another hand - company cannot develop software without receiving money for that.
Software like Blender is funded by big corporations. And as a result - anyone can use Blender free of charge.
Of course ArchiCAD cannot switch on the same model of funding, it's impossible. But, maybe, it would be nice idea to make old versions of ArchiCAD free of charge. Keep let say 5 versions as a buffer and let everyone to use version 19 for free.
I think it make sense. Everyone who is interested to work on the latest version - because they understand that made improvements have affect to their business - will pay for the licenses, keep their service prescriptions.
But small practises, who draw a little bit something, practises that thinking to switch on ArchiCAD, all who wants to learn the system - can just start on old version.