IK Multimedia T Racks and CSR Reverb, reasonably priced at the time but still more expensive than the worthless I equate it with.
SpectraSonics Trilogy... it seemed expensive for what it is and after I got to know it I figured out I'd never use it. I doubt it's worth the CD it's on.
Life goes on. I feel lucky that I learned a long, long time ago how to save up and pay no strings attached cash for stuff that I would grow in to and so I have long and friendly relationship with almost all of my gear and software. :-)