I think all that you said is true. I think people who don't have a good understanding of the industry have trouble seeing why these things are so expensive. Ho

I think all that you said is true. I think people who don't have a good understanding of the industry have trouble seeing why these things are so expensive. However, as your post outlines, a lot of these barriers are ones that the industry itself have put up. That same industry can tear them down. The fact that people are hosting a torrent, for no compensation, suggests that the minimal cost of providing the content is outweighed by the potential interest in viewing it - even at low quality. It looks like a product with a lot of overhead that could be delivered a lot cheaper.