Originally Posted by quantum-x

You're so touchy Paul. Want a hug?
TPB (and others of its ilk) bring piracy to the masses. If you offer someone something for $200, or give them a simple means to have it for free, or next to nothing, the vast majority will take that option.

This is true of any product or service. What is missing is an avenue for movies, music, and software to be distributed legally, with the same ease, and realistic pricing schemes.

iTunes made major impact, for the reasons above: suddenly paying $1 a song was easier than trawling TPB.

Companies like vALVE have made headways into online software distribution, too - games are cheaper, and instantly available, downloadable, and playable on any PC that you own - a hell of a lot easier than downloading the cracked version.

TPB is the product of a situation, just as speakeasies were products of prohibition.

The solution? Help foster legal, convenient technologies for the masses to use.
The dedicated pirates will never purchase - but they were never using TPB, anyhow.