Compedium?

ooh touched a nerve have I? Must have to make you throw in so many insults. Usually though it's not a good idea to come out swinging like that. Just makes it harder for you to admit you're wrong.

Do you say that you are supporting McDonalds when you buy a Big Mac? Or hey man I'm supporting Andrex coz I bought some toilet paper. I hope not. Support is help, purchase is exchange. Valve don't need your help or mine. Now if it were some mom & pop little business that you were going out of your way to purchase from because you wanted to see their business survive then support would be an appropriate term. But we're talking about a company who has over the last 10 years slowly been building a monopoly over the distribution of games. Pretty good business plan they've got, not very ethical, but w/e. The main point though is that an attitude of "I am supporting" rather than I am making an exchange is self aggrandizing. It makes your micro transaction seem important and self sacrificing. Which as you've rightly pointed out it isn't, it's a fair exchange.

Just for clarity the definitions.

Support

1. To bear the weight of, especially from below.
2. To hold in position so as to keep from falling, sinking, or slipping.
3. To be capable of bearing; withstand: "His flaw'd heart . . . too weak the conflict to support" (Shakespeare).
4. To keep from weakening or failing; strengthen: The letter supported him in his grief.
5. To provide for or maintain, by supplying with money or necessities.
6. To furnish corroborating evidence for: New facts supported her story.
7.
a. To aid the cause, policy, or interests of: supported her in her election campaign.
b. To argue in favor of; advocate: supported lower taxes.
8. To endure; tolerate: "At supper there was such a conflux of company that I could scarcely support the tumult" (Samuel Johnson).
9. To act in a secondary or subordinate role to (a leading performer).
n.
1.
a. The act of supporting.
b. The state of being supported.
2. One that supports.
3. Maintenance, as of a family, with the necessities of life.

Exchange

1. To give in return for something received; trade: exchange dollars for francs; exchanging labor for room and board.
2. To give and receive reciprocally; interchange: exchange gifts; exchange ideas.
3. To give up for a substitute: exchange a position in the private sector for a post in government.
4. To turn in for replacement: exchange defective merchandise at a store.
v.intr.
1. To give something in return for something received; make an exchange.
2. To be received in exchange: At that time the British pound exchanged for $2.80.
n.
1. The act or an instance of exchanging: a prisoner exchange; an exchange of greetings.
2. One that is exchanged.
3. A place where things are exchanged, especially a center where securities or commodities are bought and sold: a stock exchange.
4. A telephone exchange.
5.
a. A system of payments using instruments, such as negotiable drafts, instead of money.
b. The fee or percentage charged for participating in such a system of payment.
6. A bill of exchange.
7. A rate of exchange.
8. The amount of difference in the actual value of two or more currencies or between values of the same currency at two or more places.
9. A dialogue: a heated exchange between the two in-laws.

You see the difference support is to give something up, to sacrifice for the good of others. Exchange is to get something in return.

I feel like the compendium would be a better contribution to the players if Valve donated say$3.50-$4 per compendium. Obviously it's have massive influx of revenue for them so I doubt that will change, but to spend a little to get a bunch of cool aesthetics for a game I love while contributing to players that provide an awesome spectacle, that will play harder for the stakes as high as they are currently, hell I'll enjoy it. Love dota? Love spectating pro dota? Screw it spend the inconsequential $10, have fun.

What you don't seem to understand is, in a capitalistic economy, supporting a creator and exchanging with said creator are usually the same thing.

I bought the compendium for the same reason why I don't take things from sidewalk sales without going inside to pay.

And one would be perfectly correct in saying he's supporting McDonalds by buying a Big Mac. They are the same thing in capitalism.