[GeneticGenesis]

While HLS isn't the cleanest protocol (Yay for extensions of the M3U playlist format...), it's actually really good at what it's designed to do - provide reliable video streaming while using HTTP/S over variable networks.

Ultimately, HLS isn't designed for downloading and storing videos, it's designed for streaming.

[beardedetim]

Came to say this exact thing. HLS and it's fancy brother LLHLS aren't storage formats like MP4/FLV are. I think of HLS as a playback format: I'd play a Playlist when watching a VOD/livestream but I'd probably save it as an MP4.