So let me get this straight. I am assuming you can set up comms with just RSLogix?
No, you cannot set up comms with RsLogix. For that, you need RsLinx. You said you wanted to be able to mess around with programming on your own machine, you would be able to do that. If you want to plug into a PLC, you need Rslinx, and with both on your machine, you need the activation.
OkiePC: "No, RSLogix needs an activation. RSLinx Lite is free, but the other versions of RSLinx also require an activation."
Yes, RsLogix needs activation. But without RsLinx, you cannot connect. I know for certain that earlier versions of RsLogix, worked without activation as long as RsLinx was not installed. I did it, and it worked fine, and I did nothing to trick it, I simply installed it. As soon as RsLinx was installed, it wanted the activation code.
I can't say this is true for the newer versions, but it is for earlier versions.
When I say "As soon as RsLinx was installed, it wanted the activation code." I mean RsLogix wanted the activation code at that point. RsLinx Lite doesn't care, it's free anyway.