I don't claim to know the in's and outs, but it seems to me that any software that requires that much effort (400$ worth) on the part of the vendor to just generate a key and update a database is pretty much a fail anyway. If the real issue is the legitimacy of the original license the appropriate response is to refuse a new key being issued until proof of purchase can be supplied, NOT to offer some kind of ransom for a license key. Being a dick about it too just seems like rubbing salt in the wound and really isn't called for in any professional environment.
Q: How many tools does it take before a simple task becomes a project?
A: Just one. I'm the Tool that turns a simple task in to a project.