I do believe in trying to support pattern makes by purchasing the pattern ... and felt like the price of the pattern was a waste of money.
I've helped a lot of friends over the years in trying to make sense of some patterns. Not all designs are created equally! Very rarely is it a skills issue of the quilter but sometimes you do have to say something like "well, this is more of an advanced applique pattern and you aren't quite there yet so of course you are having problems".
Some of the times it just doesn't even make sense, I remember a friend who did really great applique work. She was wanting to do a historical re-creation but wasn't using exactly correct period fabrics or reproductions and was stressing out about the finished block size being something like 11-11/16ths. Well goodness gracious, does it really mattter? Center that anywhere between 11.25-12" and it will be fine -- sometimes we just need to be told that it will be ok to do a few modifications
I'm forgetting who it is on the board, but they don't like buying patterns that show designs but not an actual finished object. I hear that! Sometimes when I look at the workmanship of the cover piece and cringe a bit, it is sort of like some of the quickie cheapie quilting books. If I already know I can make it better by following their directions, I have to believe I can make it even better by following my directions.