If i want something to download, i search limewire, if limewire hasnt got it, then i search winmx, is not winmx, shareaza, if not shareaza, then morpheus, if not that then i just go out and buy it :d
i use bearshare alot and i have never had much of a problem with spyware. of course, i do have a firewall (sygate personal) and i use spybot and ad-aware once a month. it also helps if you exit bearshare when you're done with it instead of minimizing it