piracy skyrockets value
This assertion from Hung's Piracy and Commitment stuck out to me:
When you pirate stuff, that book's, song's, or game's value essentially becomes zero.
Your monetary valuation of an item doesn't necessarily inform its holistic valuation. In many cases, pirated goods themselves tap into the currency of commitment, time, and attention in ways their official versions can only dream of. They can be the random start that saves Buridan's ass, cutting through paralyzing choices to build momentum, motivation, and even mojo. That goes only for the creative, but for the creative's audience too.
Whether pirated goods get consumed or serve as an antilibrary, you can skyrocket their value without paying a dime. How many new fans could pay for or pirate said book, song, or game based on your recommendation? After you enjoy it yourself, you can pay as many dimes as you want for it. Pay the creative for a copy of their work, donate to them if that isn't possible, or continue sharing your love for it otherwise. The sky is the limit when it comes to how to reward creatives that rewarded you with a fun time.