I think DF is not saying that using pirated software/CD/DVD is ok, he is just explaining why people may do it even knowing it's wrong, just because they can not afford it.  Our maid has pirate cable TV, but then a legal cable TV will cost he at least US$60 per month - a sum she can not dispose.  She doesn't need cable TV, but like everything in modern life, people want to have access to this.

In my opinion, the piracy problem is much more than a matter of being able to afford them or not.  Most of my colleagues have a life standard that would permit them to buy, and yet most don't buy.  I have been laughed at by having purchased my PC with a legal copy of Windows.  Why buy if you can get for free - that's their logic.  

Price is a reason.  They can afford the Playstation games they get, but they think it is not worth it.  But the getting for free (or very cheap in the case of pirate DVDs) is now so embedded in people's habits, that only a good reason makes people do otherwise - a cheap offer, free updates (like in Windows).

A friend of mine who buys microstock images for his daughter's school assignments used to buy her pirated movie videocassetes, because they were very expensive and because she insisted in watching them over and over.  It's an explanation that also does not justify the action.  

PS: Once again, don't assume that life costs are smaller in poorer countries. Probably food is the only cheap thing here. Electronics are heavily taxed, so camera & accessories cost twice what they cost in the USA. A new car, even if manufactured here, doesn't cost less than US$15k. And gasoline, even if we are self-sufficient in oil, costs more than in most euro countries. Friends who live in the USA pay for a rent in a big house less than they would here in a small apartment.

Interesting...maybe all the bantering on here actually did some good. I just clicked on the OP's original link and this is what I got

Ladies and Gentlemen!

We bring you our apologies. Our site is temporarily under maintenance.
But soon the work site will be resumed.

Administration

I think that "Our" agencies must screw up this Rapid, Mega, Hotfile servers or whatever they name is in way like music agencies screw Napster few years ago.
Obviously we cant fight with 99% of new degeneric net users who only know how to log in on mail and Myspace or FaceBook and share stolen files, images, movies... thru Rapid and other servers.
I really dont know why that server sites dont erase any user who steal just one file like on stock sites?!? What they are doing?
If you complain for you stolen image they turn that image down (if you are lucky after month or soo) and they retard user have all other thousands of stolen images in his "port" without youre one??? what??

very interesting read... not taking sides but...
i agree with XPTO about poverty or lack of money being the main issue.
IMO, selfishness (or self interest) is a major culprit to this dilema. Countries where piracy is rampant has very little copyright infringement laws so there's no FEAR of getting fined or caught from the people downloading. With this type of environment, I can see this creating some sort of normalcy to downloading illegally. These countries usually don't produce the goods that are being stolen. There's little economic benefit for these governments to catch downloaders. As the country gets wealthier and more producers of goods come out of the country, i'm sure they will eventually pressure their government to come up with laws that will protect their income and the taxes the government gets from the sales. Sadly, I don't see that happening anytime soon.
Downloading copyrighted material is wrong. We in the west totally understand and appreciate the hard work that is involved. I think it is a little unfair for us in the west to look at others around the world and expect them to understand this concept when they are not very familiar with what it takes to make movies, songs, art, photos. Content creators are fully aware of what it takes to be commercially profitable, and if the content creators are downloading illegally, you are truly a thief in my eyes.