I find the best method is this:
Find software you might like and want to buy and contact the developer to beta test.
Sure, it's not always fun. Sometimes it doesn't work and there are problems.
But there is a certain satisfaction in helping a developer make software and you are usually rewarded with a free copy of the program for your efforts.
This way you get your software for free *and* you help the larger community by helping to make better software , which in turn brings more people to the WM community.
JMO