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The only thing that gratifies me out of this thread is that it is providing a clarification of PD and DRM for those who do not know how it works. The rest of it, unfortunately, is all about seeking rationalizations and justification for taking something that wasn't intended for you.
We've had these discussions here before, of course, and probably will for all time. Personally, the rationalizations mystify me... I realize e-books may be "just a bunch of electrons," but that shouldn't mean it's okay to consider them as abstract objects, which are okay to steal because "you're not really stealing anything." They still represent a product, and if they are intended to be sold, anyone who takes one without paying is stealing.
Our societies are based on commonly-accepted understandings, such as the concept of the sanctity of property (you know: Thou Shalt Not Steal?). The fact that you can steal something easily, or that you know you won't get caught, is no justification for stealing it. If you can get it fairly, get it. If you cannot... go without. We're talking about books, not food.
Every time I decide I want a book, I check to see if it's available as an e-book. If not, I check to see if it is available in print. If not, maybe I'll try the few used bookstores I know of. But if I still don't find it, I just won't get it. Maybe I'll call the publisher, and ask them to re-release it. But I'm not going to go and steal it, for two reasons: One, it doesn't get back to the publisher, so they don't know it's in demand; and Two, if the publisher does find out, they will NOT release the book, because of the demonstrated tendency for theft.
As long as there's a "darknet," there will be publishers who will not want to release titles into it. That will not help the publishing industry, nor will it help the consumer. So it's worth while to play "by the rules" and shun the darknets, thereby encouraging e-book publishers to give us more legal books.
Sure, it's not a perfect system. Sure, it means waiting seemingly forever for some books, and maybe literally forever for others. But in this case, it's better than the illegal alternative: A continued stifling of the e-book market thanks to the operation of scofflaws.
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