Paying up for a Windows license is also money wasted as far as I'm concerned. I have DreamSpark Premium access as a college student; that means free Windows licenses from XP to 8.1 and whatever else they might bring out in the years to come.
I would argue that those of us who are NOT paying for college would rather pay for Windows than pay for tuition to get a free license.
The Jedi Master
True, I wouldn't pay for a college tuition just for free Windows. That doesn't make a lick of sense.
But if you're going through it anyway, might as well reap the benefits!