PLEASE NEED SOME GOOD ADVICE
Ok first I want to begin by saying I have been a HUGE fan of the portal series since day one and I have portal 1 and 2 for the xbox, but ive had a bit of a dilemma. I see all these custom community maps and I think they look friggin awesome but the problem is I can't get them because I only have it for the 360 (im assuming you cant download the community maps onto the 360) So I was kind of considering pirating portal 2 JUST so I could get the community maps since I already payed 60 bucks for the game on the xbox but I didn't know the community maps would work on a pirated version (and I havent been able to find any good pirated portal 2 stuff) If I can't play the maps on a pirated version I may buy it on steam but I am wondering if it is worth it since i have no experience with custom maps. Can I play custom maps on a pirated version and if not is it worth buying it on steam for the sole purpose of custom maps?
It's only like $15 dollars dude! Just FUCKING buy the game. Don't pirate ever.
PortalStories.com
"Oh, in case you got covered in that repulsion gel, here's some advice the lab boys gave me: DO NOT get covered in the repulsion gel."
but i heard it was hard to use the community maps and im bad with computers lol is it tough to download?
1. Not hard to use community maps once you know where the game's folders are,
2. Proficiency with computers is irrelevant; it is, basically, drag and drop.
3. Just so you've been warned... Even the merest mention of piracy tends to cause some distress in this forum, so I might advise being a little more obtuse. 
oh and is there a way to buy games off steam without using a credit card or debit card like if there is a steam gift card or something? i always prefer to pay with cash
yea i usually hate the idea of pirating too but the problem is steam is not very convenient for me just cause im old fashioned and i like to have an actual physical copy of the game and I like to pay in cash thats all there arent any steam gift cards or anything like that are there?
Well, stores (Gamestop, Target, etc) carry disks with Portal 2 but don't have the $15 sale. Maybe you could trade your Xbox version for a PC version?
I have a very strict view about piracy unless it involves older games (GBA or older). Who ever told you Community maps were hard to use on the computer doesn't know what he/she is talking about.
My Work
[spoiler]Maps:
Revenge of the Angry Turrets
Capture the Cube [Co-op]
Capture the Cube 2 [Co-op]
TPWEGTH Sample Map
Aperture Aquatic Testing Center
Aperture Aquatic Testing Center 2
Aperture Time Testing Center
ML's Halloween Trick - 1000 downloads!
ML's Halloween Treat
ML's Combination - 1000 downloads!
ML's Jailbreak Labyrinth
ML's Tricky Teamwork [Co-op]
WIP:
"Capture the Cube 3"
Workshop Maps Link: http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198008890579/myworkshopfiles/[/spoiler]
I absolutely agree with the previous poster that you should pay for the PC license UNLESS you really can't afford it (very hard to imagine you really can't). As for custom maps on a pirated version, I'm not sure you can play COOP maps but most likely there won't be a problem with single players PROVIDED that the pirated copy is good enough without rips and such. You'll have to enable "console" in the keyboard options and see how it goes.
Again, you should purchase a legal copy, not pirate. Good luck. 
is there any advantages to having a cd version then having it on steam?
None at all. Just buy. You could make $15 easily after a night on the streets.
PortalStories.com
"Oh, in case you got covered in that repulsion gel, here's some advice the lab boys gave me: DO NOT get covered in the repulsion gel."