turns out that sign-up requests via their website "disappear into a void" where it seems you'd be lucky if they catch it "a fortnight later" *slow*clap*
with the total absence of product pricing on their website, i emailed them "well, here I am. please call me at your convenience". at least I didn't have to wait too long for that, got a login, access to a demo of Altium, & a quote of $7245+gst.
![ThumbsDown :--](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/icon_thumbsdown.gif.pagespeed.ce.D027Y9gZ7m.gif)
but in consideration of my old Protel 98 license, they've offered $4750 + gst, a decent concession i guess?
overnight i watched Dave's first-impressions videos of KiCAD & DIPtrace - the latter looks far more promising (compared to the horror of EagleCAD), and will probably do nicely at least until I can save up the bickies for Altium next year...