[lotsofpulp]

>my habit at the time of downloading TV instead of waiting months/years for it to be broadcast or available to buy on tape/DVD in this country, which I admit was a valid comparison

How is that a valid comparison? You did what you had to do in order to be able to consume media because the media’s owner did not make it available to you in any form due to the geographic location you lived in.

The other person committed fraud and basically stole the “newness” of a seller’s clothes because they could to afford them.

It would only be sort of comparable if you had a reasonable way to pay the media owner for the media, but chose not to because you wanted to save money.

[acdha]

Did they send money to the creator or buy it when it became available? If not, OP received a benefit without compensating the creator.

You don’t have a right to use other people’s work without their consent. If it’s not available, the only ethical choice is not to use it - we’re not talking lifesaving medication here, you can watch something else.