I haven't posted in this thread for a while, but I just heard about this site, where you can get software at educational discounts.
I always used Acedemic Superstore.com, but this place is cheaper in some cases. The eligiblity requirements and prices differ on each site.
You need to either be a teacher, school administrator, or be a student to purchase but the discounts are great!
Here's the site:
http://www.journeyed.com
and here is the page with the eligibility requirements:
http://www.journeyed.com/page/purchase_requirements/
For example, college students can get Adobe CS4 for only $399.98. And of course they can give it to their parents as a gift...