Yeh i prefer unlimited trials with slight gimp in them to the timed trials that let you do more. Usually if I want to try it i really want to know it well before purchasing it. And I don't mind having slightly lower quality then some paid edition. Thats why I like both WM and Terragen
. I ended up purchasing Terragen, and once WM2 is out, I might end up buying it.
With timed trials it almost always goes like this:
1. Go ooooh I want that program.
2. See its nice timed trial.
3. Download timed trial.
4. Install timed trial.
5. Play 10 minutes in it then suddenly have something come up.
6. Busy for the next few weeks...
7. Come back to a dead trial, not fulfilled in any way.
What would be the best is if a company offered both... A timed trial and a gimped unlimited trial. This would allow people to really test the full capabilities quickly if they needed to find something to buy for commercial use, or others could download the more time but slightly gimped version for personal hobby. Thing I like about Terragen and WM is they are still within decent price tags so even though I just do it as an occasional hobby, I can afford the actual versions...
And if you like the program besides the fact that it gimps your output to lower resolution... maybe you should just save up and buy the program. you already know you like it except with nice of a terrain you can get. Even gimped versions are enough to see that you like the work flow of the program and the output is decent. 512 is fine for me for free.