I think this comment should be pinned honestly.
VPNs are not required. Instead of egressing on your ISPs network, you're egressing on someone else's network. It's kinda like paying for a second ISP so you can egress your ISP to go encrypted to your other ISP. What does it accomplish other than putting you in another law jurisdiction?
I...what?
How am I paying for another person's ISP when I'm mooching off of their network to pirate from?
Okay, so the two examples you've provided about those VPN services, have nothing to do at all about piracy. One is about cyberstalking and the other was about a child abuse investigation. Those are arguably more serious than piracy in comparison.
At that point do you think you'll get some form of compensation from the VPN provider?
The fuck are you on?
The cons would outweigh the pros.
We would be back to the 2000s where the world was cautiously allied with the U.S during the Bush years. Like, the world depends on the U.S for a lot of things and to lose it's support, ally and everything to dictatorship would be detrimental. Trump is orchestrating a U.S where he thinks everyone should bow to the country, under his rule. It's not about making America Great Again, it's about making Trump Great Again.
My argument is that, the purpose of the Autumn and Winter Sales is we're expected to see staggeringly great deals. That is why so many people have looked forward towards every year with Steam. When you see a game that's been consistently 20% all year, it's been released 6 years ago for example and it's active on the Winter Sale with the same exact price as it had been? It defeats the purpose of being involved in the sale in the first place.
It's a matter of to each their own as to what game they think is currently having a great deal and that's factored in whether or not that they have it. I'm seeing deals of games where I admit, are at extremely better price points than when I originally got them for. But I also can say that there are games that are on sale right now, where I remembered getting them at better deals way back when.
I've already pointed out that it's also likely that I've been acquiring a majority of the games that I want and that if I partake into this sale, I'd only be spending for the sake of spending which may likely not be worth my expenses.
They really were. Like, in 2015, I paid a total of $153 for like 34 games. It doesn't sound like a lot, but for the games I wanted that were there? Totally worth it. Like Wolfenstein the Old Blood, Transformers War For/Fall Of Cybertron, Oblivion and Morrowind to mention a few.
The prices aren't impressing me, then again, they really hadn't impressed me for 5 years in a row now. They're exactly the same as I've seen them in other sales, except the other sales mark them down slightly lower.
Granted, I've acquired nearly every game I've personally been scouting for so the thrill is mostly gone. I'd only be spending just to spend on things I don't quite need and not want.
Confirmation bias.
"I have muh internet, muh couch and muh TV...I'm gud" - Americans who didn't show to vote.
Or about freezing nearly expired foods.
Lol, no.
And within the next four years, it'll be non-existent.
This is coming from a guy who's out to dismantle the same government agencies outright.
So which is it, asshole? Fund them or dismantle them? Pick.
Tired of these old farts...