[dyn!o]

Real SCCT fans would buy the game neverthless of the crack because of multiplayer ability (CD keys problem). The crack is not important for the people who really wants to get the title because most of nowadays PC games rely on multiplayer. The people who use pirated version of games most likely would not buy the game if there is no crack. Since you mentioned "statistical support", here we continue the story below.

I have access to game publishers official sales reports thus assume fulfiling your requirement. SCCT "no crack sales boost" is estimated as ~5% by its publishers (basing on their opinions and sales reports comparing uncracked SCCT sales to cracked Silent Hunter in similar official release period and assuming SCCT as louder title). Furthermore, when I have been talking about SCCT crack absence they were not convinced if it ever boosted the sales to that amount (they suggested lower percentage). Is 5% in your opinon "lots of people"?

Imagine how many millions of pirated SCCT copies would have been used in case of crack existence (multiply official stock by few times) and then calculate on your own how many of them really bought this title (substract 5% from official stock and compare it to multiplied annual stock).

[EDIT: this post has been made as a reply to Poseidon's post. Somehow his post has been deleted and since that this one may look a bit out of the context]