Not posting to comment on your reply to Freshfroot, just wanted to say one thing though. Keep in mind that many "Shared Hosts" don't offer Ioncube for using, something to think about as you could be limiting your chance of getting extra sales due to that. But of course it's your call because of the piracy thing in the past, but think that's part of the reason vBSEO removed it after somebody actually cracked the encryption used and offered it for free download without Ioncube needed. I remember that one very well at the time, soon after they then removed Ioncube.
They may have thought it was pointless using it anymore once cracked, they might as well gain extra sales from shared host as an added benefit removing it. All I'm saying, even if you stick to your guns using Ioncube encrypted protection, already seen vBSEO busted using the same and offered for free download years back. It could be done again no doubt, food for thought is all I'm giving.
Personally, I won't be buying it, so I'm not saying this going of what I'd like to see happen. Doesn't matter either way to me what you do, Ioncube or not. I bet even you Micheal remember that one with vBSEO, you was around using vB at the time no doubt.