That is outrageous...
If he doesnt want to pay for a forum, then he should go download XMB or PhpBB (i think you may have to pay now) or some other free board...
My 2 cents - With vB, you get what you pay for...Not only is it true with the marvelous coding, but you get excellent support and the help of people on vb.com and vb.org to help customise your site...
Thats why, by the end of this month / the beginning of July, I will have my own Full vBulletin Liscence (All $160 worth of pure vBulletinness)!!
Satan