[ncmncm]

It is mystifying to me that people cannot understand the simple meaning of the article: Paid programming provides bad service for the money, enough so that you get a better experience via back channels. If the publishers want your business, they will need to provide service better than you can cobble up yourself.

I object to the term "pirating" here. Piracy involves depriving people of life and property. You are not doing anything like that. Bootlegging might be a tolerably apt term. Bootlegging is just bypassing onerous restrictions and taxes, with an admixture of freeloading.

My wife pays for various channels, but I torrent the same content because the experience is radically better. Am I pirating? I don't think I am even bootlegging.

The main thing keeping me from doing it more (I hardly ever do anymore) is that I just don't have time to watch things. I have taken to running what little I do grab at 1.5x to 2x so I can spare the time. Now, not running that fast seems intolerably glacial.

All that said, hoarding is a common symptom of depression. Treating depression is a very, very good idea.