Opinions on buying music legally versus other means

[Zach72]

Until the past few years or so I'd always been fine with just youtube-mp3'ing music. Recently, after just kinda considering artists' opinions and the fact that they really do appreciate it when people buy their stuff, I've started to just go ahead and buy things (and look for more free music). Do you guys ever regret obtaining mp3s through semi-scandalous means? Do you think iTunes rips artists off so much anyways that it doesn't make a difference? I've heard that artists get maybe 30 cents out of the dollar purchase per song - a rate which I found appallingly low . So, I wonder if I'm helping the artists at all by buying their music if they get such a small cut. I'm sure for some of you, this doesn't really apply because you might not listen to more mainstream stuff you have to purchase, but I still think it'd be interesting to hear input from that perspective :v.

[crazymario]

    A television - antenna on top - is in front of you, and a recliner just opposite. To the left, just enough room for a table to place your food upon; and to your right, an entrance to a bathroom so small you have to pee in the shower. This is what you see as you enter your lowly apartment on Who-knows-what-number Street.
    How did I get here? you ask yourself. You remember that fateful day, your fourteenth birthday, when you decided to make that lifelong commitment. I remember that day. As you blew out those fourteen candles, you made the ultimate sacrifice. I remember it. What you said. As you rose from the grave that was the light of those candles, you said it:
    I want to be a musician.
    It was all fun and games back then, wasn’t it, Bob? You said you would grow up to become a famous composer. You would be rich and write music for huge Hollywood movies, like that John Williams guy. By the end of your high school career you were winning competitions left and right with your finger talent, and you wrote great works that even the Man himself would envy!
    What happened, Bob? You changed. When you got to college, you were so passionate. Why did you change, Bob?
    “I don’t make any money.”
    Weren’t you renting an apartment with your friends from college? What happened to them?
    “I couldn’t afford my part. Got kicked out.”
    Why couldn’t you afford it?
    You hear a loud knocking at the door, as if someone was pounding it with a hammer. Where do you go? The bathroom is too small. There are no other rooms. Can’t hide under the table. Behind the television?
    Smash! A person emerges from the splinters of door that resulted from the pounding of the hammer he carries. He’s going to kill you. There’s nothing here to take. Television is from 1934. Recliner is too much trouble to carry. One blow from that hammer and you’re dead.
    “Give me your music!”
    Oh, that’s right. You look next to the recliner and see the guitar you kept there. How did you forget about it?
    “I don’t do music anymore.”
    “What? Yes you do! You have three albums on iTunes!”
    “You think that crap gives me money? Nobody buys music on iTunes. It’s bastards like you, downloading my music off of Youtube, that force me to live in this garbage apartment!”
    “Youtube? Are you joking, dude?” The strange man lowered his hammer. “The quality of Youtube-ripped MP3s sucks absolute arse.”
    You turn on the television and sit back in the recliner. The antenna needs adjusting, but you’re too lazy to get back up.
    “What do you want with me?” you ask.
    “I want to support you, dude! I want to give you money, but I know that iTunes’ policy sucks. Where can I get your music besides iTunes?”
    “Oh, I have a website.” You reach over and grab your guitar. “Man this thing needs tuning.”
    “How can you afford a website?”
    “Don’t ask stupid questions.”

[Julzboiy]

Torrent.

But if i really enjoy the music, i do purchase it.
Plus, if I have previously bought an artist's CD and lost it, i just re-download the album.
No shame.
Same thing with video games in regards to Roms and Iso files.