One thing I strongly believe in is buying the SuSE Distribution on each release. Sure, I can boot into DOS and make an FTP connection, download enough to get me started, and install the entire OS over the net. I always buy the distribution when it comes out. I figure it's the least I can do to for these folks who put so much into creating it.
The software that Suse distribute was 99% written by people who wrote it for free and have released it under the GPL or similar license. You buying Suse distribution does not give anything back to them. Suse did not create Linux/GNU. They package it and include configuration facilities that they did write (and are not GPL'ed). I am not aware of any software packages that Suse have contributed back (X11 video drivers maybe ?). It is very sad for the Suse people who lost their jobs. This can happen to anyone working for a profit-hungry company. If this event has one beneficial side-effect it may make people realise that Suse is not the cuddly darling bunch of techno-geeks kindly contributing to world improvement that some people on this list seem to think they are. Suse GMBH is a hard-nosed bunch of businessmen seeking to maximise bucks at minimum cost. I sincerely hope the people that Suse have just shoved on the pavement gets jobs soon. Their technical Linux expertise should not make that difficult. My 2 pennyworth. Cliff