The activations regenerate, dude. The hate against the old Starforce is well deserved, don't get me wrong, but a one time activation is hardly draconian. And if it pisses you off that much buy a license but just install the pirated version. Eagle Dynamics and the Fighter Collection self-publish all their products, so the money goes straight to them, and the DCS series is of such high quality and so unique in today's world of dumbed down console shit that they deserve the support.
Anyone who has even a passing interest in military aviation is fucking themselves if they pass up on DCS simply because of the DRM.