I dunno KB.
If Ductisoft were savvy they would have made the run times free as well as the IDE, licensing the use of the IDE to produce commercial applications. For example, the free version of the IDE would compile an encrypted message into the ODC / ODS files that displays at runtime. The message would be (words to the effect) "Compiled with the free version of ObjectDCL -- free for personal use only". The licensed version would remove said message.
Packaged this way many developers would try and become familiar with the product, thereby encouraging other developers to use the product. Ductisoft would make money when developers intend to make money with ODCL applications, don't want the nag to appear or just want to support the effort because they're wired that way.
The way they've packaged it? I don't see the masses migrating to said product.
Then again what do I know about beer.
{ hic }