Regarding the VAT again ...

If I'm not all mistaken, I think we non-US ppl payed the taxes, for the digial versions back when PP2012/P9 came out, already (I'm from .de as well). Something about paying VAT rang my bell, while reading through this topic here.

I looked at my paypal payment for PP2012 from back then, and it was exactly $287.49. IIRC, while the regular price was stated at $500 (for the PP2012 version), pre-orders were rewarded with a 50% coupon, so it was "just" $250 after all. But, as said, I was charged with $287.49 , that included a 15% tax (VAT).

So in conclusion I think it's all as it should be, by (tax-) laws at least :P