The way I learned various programs and databases (including HADOOP and others) was to download their free trial software or log on to their ONLINE "try me" versions.
I've been programming web applications since the 90's. Platforms that don't provide some way to do this have died on the vine over the years. Many were GREAT platforms, but they all turned to dust. Only the ones that provide some sort of way to try it out...move the levers and flip the switches...have survived if they were good. ThingWorx and other PTC products are really great. But there is no way to "Try before you Buy" or "Check Under the Hood". Very short-sighted, in my opinion.
Look at ColdFusion. It started in 1996 (-ish). By the very early 2000's it was making a lot of platforms very nervous. They had both a way to download and try it, and a very robust nation-wide Users Group (called CFUG). It helped that their documentation was equal to none.
PTC ought to reconsider their stance on this in my humble opinion.
