@r_gigante The reason I'm going with Gumroad is because it provides a system that I can automate as an indie developer. I can make useful C4D tools and plugins, but I'm not a web developer nor a fully-fledged programmer.
The current license system in Cinema 4D implies that the user generates License Information and sends it to the plugin developer to get get a personalized key back.
I could do this either by hand via emails, or by implementing an automated system on a website with an online software that does that.
The first option is a horrible ux experience for the user and a huge overhead for the developer, so it's an invalid option.
The second option requires me to become a full-blown web developer to make a simple c4d plugin, requiring completely disproportional amount of effort.
Therefore yes, I would argue having to develop our own license systems is a very big reason why c4d developers are so few.
Maxon implemented a new license system with 21, which would be great for plugins if they could use it. I.e. every plugin license to be added to the MyMaxon account, and let the maxon licensing system do the licensing. But this is not how we can use it.
Not only that but there are some very big limitations currently. If a studio account has 20 c4d licenses, I can't tie the plugin to a specific c4d version as I would with the serial numbers. I can only tie it to 1 machine, which is limiting and uncomfortable for the customer, or tie it to the account and allow them to only get 1 plugin license and use it in 20 different c4d licenses simultaneously.
In the end I see redshift have it's own license server, x-particles having their own licensing system, and the indie plugin developers having no idea what to do and how to do it.
Either way the licensing system has a lot of room for improvement. Currently it doesn't seem to be made with the plugin developers in mind; especially indie developers are struggling with it, as I've noticed in numerous people I talked with.