When they paywall & DRM it, my automatic assumption is that they know it's crap Then obviously this isn't a primary concern of yours, because why would you rip

When they paywall & DRM it, my automatic assumption is that they know it's crap Then obviously this isn't a primary concern of yours, because why would you rip off crap? How would you execute "try before you buy" for a novel? You can already get free previews. For a movie? You can view a trailer. You can view reviews. You can rent it, but not for free. I don't see how letting you watch it then deciding if you want to buy it or not will work. How many movies do we keep permanent copies of so we can view them repeatedly? Not many adults I know do this very much. There are honest complaints about DRM. My gripe with it is that I don't want vendor lock-in on the reading devices. My gripe with research paywalls is for research paid for with public funds. But I have no problem (morally) with the Washington Post asking for a subscription. To take it when it's not yours is stealing, pure and simple. If it has no value for you then don't take it, and certainly don't redistribute it.