On the other hand, cutting off Mathematica would have a very serious 
impact on CCM's operations. At the moment it is used by almost all 
members of the group. I've searched a number of times, most recently 
about a month back, for a comparable alternative and have been unable to 
find one. That said, it would not be impossible to make do without it, 
using a variety of other tools (Matlab, Maple and Scientific Word for 
instance). But there'd be a very serious productivity hit in the short 
term, and on technical grounds I'd say that these other tools are not as 
good, so this wouldn't be a viable long term solution either.

I don't know what the right thing to do is. I guess making it clear now 
to Wolfram that we won't renew in September might be a good idea. Then 
at least there's a chance that we'll get what we want before it comes to 
the crunch.

But if it does come to the crunch then I'd say the bottom line - given 
that we need to get science done first and foremost - is that CCM 
wouldn't be willing to refuse to use Mathematica.