If I may make a suggestion, while EAW is a great game, the Orion Pirates Release (which was - get this - a standalone
expansion ) is considered by many to be the better product of the two.
Keep your eyes peeled here @ D.Net, we're trying to get everything sorted out to
sell you a copy with a unique CD key, sans the manuals. (We can probably do that too at some point, but it'll be more legal stuff).
If everything works out, we'll offer two flavors:
A. Game CD w/ Unique and authentic CD Key
B. Game CD w/ Unique and authentic CD Key, Dynaverse.Net Revised Strategy Manual (coming out later this month)
Look for an announcement soon
P.S. + 1 karma to everyone in this thread who handled this appropriately and well - YOU ROCK