I actually wouldn't mind to pay for software on the Linux system.
For me this is not about getting everything for free and see that you can get just as good programs for free.

My reason for moving from the other OS to Linux was all about getting a stable OS, and hopefully in the future buying the software that I used to use under the other OS.

I also hope that development of Xara pics up.

Another idea could be to change the name and leave the Linux-version to the community (allowing forks and what not). It will either live or not live, but then it is all up to the community to keep the development alive.

T