It's not only high end 3D apps. Somehow, many US companies charge non-US customers extra. Adobe does it, Apple does it, publishers do it, carmakers do it, many others do it.
For some items, shipping and handling is a valid reason to increase prices - shipping a book from the US to Europe is definitely more expensive than shipping it locally. But for downloadable software actual shipping and handling costs are exactly the same for every customer around the world.
Export fees may apply, differences in VAT do apply, exchange rates do apply. Take all that into account, and you'll find that some companies put 25%-50% more money in their coffers when they sell to a non-US customer...

I've never understood why. A product is a product, I don't believe there's any difference between Photoshop CS4 as sold to a US citizen and Photoshop CS4 sold to a Brit, so there also should be no difference in the net profit Adobe makes from both sales.

The pen is mightier than the sword. But if you literally want to have some impact, use a typewriter

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