Piracy

[BroomJockey]

I have Netflix if I want to know if a movie is good I add it to my queue and watch it.

My dad always had the same philosophy rent then if you like you buy.

Netflix isn't a viable option for everyone, for various reasons. Further, even rental shops may not be a good choice. I know usually any decent movies are unavailable at my local shops, new or old. So, given a choice between "download to check it, and then maybe buy it," or "not see it ever," you'd think that places would support the possibility of increased revenue over no possibility of revenue.

[Flyndaran]

Actually, depending on what it is and if I paid for it, yes I would, I would not however have the rights to distribute it or try to pass it off as my own.

Depending on what it is like tv programs yes you may have the right to own a single copy. That right came after years of legal battles. In the future computer stuff may become less protected. But right now many items are now allowed to be copied.
Just because everyone is doing it, does not make it legal. (that's mostly a comment to others on this thread)

[BroomJockey]

But right now many items are now allowed to be copied.

Actually, through a quirk of legalities, you're allowed to posses a back-up copy of nearly everything, but what you're not allowed to do is circumvent any DRM to obtain that copy. Thus creating a nice paradox. You can own it, but you can't make it!