I don’t have any issues with pirating, but I honestly think they’re a pretty good company considering they are making such an extensible and modable game even though there is far less money in giving users those tools. They definitely release DLC but over 10 years it wasn’t more than $100 worth of content? I think Cities 1 has more replayability than any other game I’ve played and I have spent a total of like $50 on it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The connect app now has that as a setting, if that makes a difference for you.