I still hoard my AutoCAD 2000i (instructors student version) like gold. I got my hands on it when I went to ITT Tech, it has something extremely rare amongst AutoDesk software, especialy these days, an unlocked unlimited distribution license (
). It just saddens me it's now like 10+ years old, oh well. But it still works well and comes in handy since IMO most the architects I work with still save in 2000/2002 drawing file formats.
Try to befriend a CAD instructor with a CD burner
. Next choice, go for the student versions.
I used AutoCAD LT 2006 at work and home, with 2000i on backup if I need to do the occasional thing that LT won't let me do. I'm pretty much all 2D, I've gotte rusty on a lot of my 3D (unless it's 3D in CAD, but that's been phased out in favor of AutoDesk's REVIT for 3D it seems).
I curse AutoDesk, they're a f!@#$ monopoly, and $900-$4000 for a copy!? I'm not a cheap or shoty person myself, or at least I try not to be, but that still has about a $250 limit for
software, especialy one from a company whos development is so well funded they're popping out new versions or additional products for the same tasks/professions every other year.