Potential buyer, you have me a tad confused. One the one hand you say you are a potential buyer, yet on the other you say you may return your CW because of the pattern situation. Someone who spends that kind of money without having an idea of what they wish to do with it is a bit cart before the horse. That's why YOU should use Designer to learn both how to use the vector tools and how to use raster images for making your own Patterns. Patterns are created from YOUR raster images or creations, and you as well as others should be able to create them and even allow others to see what they are without losing control over them. It's still a very nice thing in this country to be able to make a buck, and if the price is too high, no buyers; if the price is right, then you'll have buyers ... or you or anyone can GIVE them away as they see fit.
Bob