Questions answered!

1: Why you need PALib & Devkitpro
These are the core tools which turn the code into a .nds rom. They are needed even when you code it yourself!

2: Why .NET Framework?
This makes our programs run faster, more efficiently. It is also a hell of a lot simpler to program in, but the main reason is is that it's the only way for 14 year old to create software without getting a headache!

3: I got a "program failed to initialize properly (0xc0000135)" error.
Get .NET Framework!

"I would, .net framework - blue screen of death."
What are you running - Windows 95?

but the program seems all but useless without paying for it
You're only supposed to "pay" when you use the program enough that you need the extra features

$10 for this!?!?!
Not really, it's free FOREVER. Not shareware, doesn't last XXX days, this is free forever. If you think it sucks, go and learn programming and then see why I made a DS Game Maker.

no actual proof that what it compiles will work on a DS.
True, but if you tried it you could make a game in less than a minute, and run it in an emulator and you would see that this does make results

Sorry I had to rant there.