I remember being told to get GIMP because it's the same thing as Photoshop but free and open source. So I tried it.

It's not the same. Not by a long shot. Those who love it because it's open source should mod it up to actually be as good as Photoshop.

I feel like it's even advantageous to them to pirate. If everyone wanting to work in graphic design pirates Photoshop, they'll know how to use it in the business world, and their work will buy it because it's what everyone knows.