This is NOT picking on you. I'm just curious about how and where we draw lines. In this case, you were on the side against Metallica so you ripped 'em. I was on your side as well, so please don't think this is some "holier than thou are" bullshit. I did not like the stance they, and many others, were taking (and egged into taking). I just didn't get into the personal attacks on them.
However, their side of the core issue was genuinely the correct one. They did make something. People did take it without permission and without paying for it. Being upset about that seems like a logical response. People getting mad that they were mad does not. (See Qualifiers below...)
So why did we justify that they were wrong?
The question really isn't for you, it's for every Napster user, myself included.
Their words at the time were not "metal", but that was over 20 years ago. They're wiser, and I think we are too. And maybe this part is more for Cake, but if we don't learn, forgive, and move on, how are we different from the cancel culture morons?
Honestly, isn't us debating their actions and our own really just distracting from the true enemy at the time, which were the record companies? They were fleecing talent, driving up prices, refusing to embrace new technology (particularly distribution), etc.
Every single gaming company/personality we all support/know took a hardline against pirating. The same side of the street Metallica was on, but I don't remember our boycotts of them or mocking Gabe Newall by mimicking his typing on a chair.
And to our credit, we did boycott games or companies that used...Stardock? Star-something. Remember the antipiracy software being stuck into games that was breaking computers or something like that?
I don't know...you can ignore me. I feel like I'm talking to myself in typing this out. Not that nobody is reading, but that I'm just analyzing the issue for my own curiosity.
BTW, I just tease you about the KISS stuff for fun. I know how you feel about Gene's salesman antics. We've discussed it previously here and face to face. It is pretty lame, but I really don't fault the man for trying to make a buck. What else is he going to go do? Become an accountant?
Qualifier #1: This is a separate conversation from the one where they should have been mad at the record companies more than people stealing individual songs. That's established and undeniable.
Qualifier #2: Cake is the exception to the rule. That's not snark. If everyone had treated Napster like he did, it might still be around.