Its already established Cracking isn't an economical problem, but an ethical one. I myself crack games, and some small utilities which are used once or twice at most like forensic software to recover lost data.
My opinion is if you are going to make some personal non-profit use of a software and may not need it on regular basis, than it doesn't hurt. But earning through such software as 90% of our market and corporate and gov is doing. Than what's your justification ?. There are perfectly good Open source alternatives.
Mankind is unique, you put something behind a lock and they won't sleep for the rest of their lives without trying to find out what's behind the lock, even if there is nothing behind it.
We go by things that are famous and popular and those famous and popular things have a price tag, we can't afford it but
WE need it, so we crack it and keep it.
The question of whether earning is haraam or not is simple. You obtained the software through illegal means. The software contains the hardwork of others and not yours. Hence you do not have the authority to sell that software and claim the profits. EULAs and TOS clearly state about distributing, reselling, re-engineering etc.
There are many still out there who will come out and fight that they too are working hard to sell and make their earning legal, things like downloading a big file, buying blank CDs/DVDs, hence claiming the term 'investing' for such purposes.
In the end it's all a matter of perspective from one's own view keeping in mind the ethical and religion's value and teachings.
I find those type of justifications as haraam ko halal karke khana, there's a verse in the Qur'an for that I believe.