Activation Server Down ... What?

Tried to load DS on a new computer at home. Activation server keeps being down. However, each time, I have to go through the typing of contact info just to get to the point when I get the "Activation server unavailable, try again later." and DS fails to run. What? If the server is so crucial, why not check that before I have to do all the typing? For the free version, why not post a message but allow the individual use the program while the server is down. There is no real downside for the company, right?