At least 50% of scene release readmes tell you to buy the game/book if you can. That proportion approaches ~80% the smaller that the developer/author is.

But here's a recent article showing that software piracy increases sales of indie titles - https://www.polygon.com/2020/1/13/21063660/danger-gazers-tor...

In the context of books you'll find the exact same phenomenon.

I am a small time author myself. If someone gives away a pirated copy of one of my books for free, but includes a readme inviting people to buy the book, I do not feel they are 'minimising the impact on me'. In fact I do not feel that makes any difference whatsoever. The best way for them to minimise the impact on me would be to not give away my book in the first place.