I agree with avoiding EQ6 because of the licensing issue. On the other hand, a huge improvement in the interface was made in EQ6, and functionality has been increased in both 6 and 7. I believe in starting with the most current version of any software that I intend to really use. I started with EQ6 and have upgraded to EQ7 and will continue to upgrade as new releases become available. I have the Dear Jane software, which was based on EQ5, and I find it very frustrating to use it after becoming used to EQ6 and now EQ7. I am always leery about buying used version of software, because you don't know for sure that the license is intact. There is a listing for EQ7 at a discount on Amazon, not as good as the one often given on quiltinaday though.