Ok, in my first couple posts... the reason for my harsh tone was unrelated to the thread (not entirely but mostly). I was having a bad day as it was, and seeing some of the opinions on this thread hit my Berserk Button. So I take back the harshness of how I said things - but not the points themselves.
I'm not totally against the idea of piracy - or at least, I don't think less of people simply for doing it. I'm sympathetic to the fact that people might not be able to afford something they like or want, or that they may not feel comfortable supporting a company that also supports the very restrictive DRM that pisses people off or that support SOPA-like bills. I get that you might think the price of something is unfairly high. I understand all the reasons that might lead people to piracy, and if I'm being brutally honest, I've indulged in the practice once or twice in regard to songs. (I've later purchased all the songs in question though.) Or maybe something you want isn't available where you live and you can't find a way to legally buy it online. So believe me, I'm not saying there aren't reasons for piracy.
I'm saying there aren't justifications.
When you sit here and tell me that you have the right to bypass our nation's copyright laws (for international users: There's a reason software mentions international treaties in the copyright legalese) simply because of the reasons above is bullshit. I'm not saying that to be harsh; it simply is. You may not like the way the copyright laws are written; I sure as hell don't. You may not like the RIAA or the MPAA and their ilk for what they do; again, I hate those guys. That said, just because I think the RIAA and MPAA are scumbags the likes of which are almost cartoonish in nature, doesn't mean I condone piracy. Tragically, both piracy and the *AA brothers fuck over artists looking to profit from their work. It's unfair, yes, and renovation is required. But trust me when I say that when you pirate, you don't resemble Batman, the vigilante justice-giver. You more resemble the two burglars from Home Alone, though perhaps more competent.