Modern DAWs come with incredible stock plugins. The compressors and EQs in Logic Pro X, Ableton Live, and Pro Tools are more than capable of producing radio-ready mixes. Learning to use stock tools effectively often leads to better engineering skills than simply "collecting" expensive third-party plugins.
As the music production landscape continues to evolve, plugin developers like Universal Audio may need to rethink their business models to remain competitive. Some possible solutions include: universal audio cracked plugins
However, there are risks associated with using cracked plugins: Modern DAWs come with incredible stock plugins