The thing that put me off software / music / movie piracy 20+ years ago wasn’t DRM. It wasn’t the RIAA suing children for ludicrous amounts. It wasn’t the DMCA or EUCD. It was a study from Harvard that showed that piracy increased sales by providing a free marketing channel (and, for software, a path to lock in). I realised I didn’t want to contribute to the success of companies who refused to sell their product in a form and at a price I considered acceptable.
I started boycotting Hollywood in the 90s, too. Because of all their copyright nonsense. I didn't pirate, I just ignored them.
Likewise any games with DRM.
I don't buy much music, but the RIAA is just as bad. I get my entertainment from the internet, legally.
Now that streaming services are available, I occasionally pay a service for one month of binge watching, but that's it.
@david_chisnall if the kids cannot pirate Photoshop they will not learn Photoshop
@david_chisnall Wow. That is an aspect I never considered.
@pippipopple Most of the MS monopoly was built on piracy. They intentionally made it easy for poor countries to pirate their software, so that they could lock them in and start charging as soon as it became profitable to do so.