you could just purchase IDEA and install python/ruby/c++ plugins for free

If there is one thing they learn from this sale, it's that no one seems to understand what IDEA is, and how each product relates to each other!

Is it true that there's no difference between IDEA with plugins and PyCharm, etc? I haven't used these products before so have no idea and I've heard a few people saying similar things.

Only real difference I'm aware of is the release schedule; as far as I can tell the plugins get major updates with IntelliJ releases, not alongside the separate IDEs.

(It's possible I'm wrong, just my observations)

Have a look though the other comments, but it seems to be that way.