I've got a free and easy fix for your Total Commander registration issue - DoubleCommander - Left TC for it years ago and haven't looked back. Try the latest snapshot, 32bit as 64bit has some plugin issues.
No way dude, there's nothing that can replace TotalCommander.
It's one of the few file managers which does everything right:
It gets out of your way, it works perfectly, it's search is blissful, it has a freaking multi-rename tool, it can open all sorts of packages as virtual folders (freaking isos!)
and best of all: for as long as i've known it, it hasn't changed it's look ever (apart from the name change which was strange, but acceptable)
One of these days I'll register it. Until then I don't see the nag screen as a problem ![:)](http://blackbox4windows.com/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.png)