I prefer the narrative in which sales on Steam are the popular response to high pricing (and DRM), and where Free To Play is something that bad guys do to explo

I prefer the narrative in which sales on Steam are the popular response to high pricing (and DRM), and where Free To Play is something that bad guys do to exploit people's psychology (tapping into the same mecanics as casino do). You are framing it in a way that makes Free To Play the only valid response to piracy.