Yes, there is a group of people for whom pirating stuff is an actual hobby. They still exist today -- I know a couple of them. And I'm glad that I do. I know that if I can't find something I really want, there's a very good chance that one of them has it.
Also, though I'm having trouble finding the source, I do remember Orwell publishing a preface to Animal Farm (?), but only in illegal bootleg copies behind the Iron Curtain. I remember him saying something like 'I'd only ever give a preface to those copies, because I knew those were the people that would give a damn to reading it'.
Now, I know there is a preface that Orwell published in the West to Animal Farm, but I just can't shake that it was Animal Farm that he did this illegal publishing for.
If anyone know a bit better what I'm talking about or remembers the story better, please let me know here.
Yes, there is a group of people for whom pirating stuff is an actual hobby. They still exist today -- I know a couple of them. And I'm glad that I do. I know that if I can't find something I really want, there's a very good chance that one of them has it.