...there have also been studies showing people who pirate music are more likely to buy it after.

And there have been studies that show that studies are just as likely to be bullshit as factual. Like that one or the "New NASA Data Casts Doubt On Global Warming Models" hoax.

Yes, the result is higher cost (which is never welcome news) to subscribers of both DVDs and streaming. Like me.

BUT... the reason they can and will increase the price is that it's still worth it for the vast majority of their subscribers. Like me.

And given the absence of competition, its a wonder they haven't done this sooner, or more often.

Last week, a friend and I were marvelling at how they can afford to sell streaming and up to 7 or 8 DVDs a month, postage-paid, for $10.

Netflix is a remarkably well-run service, and we're lucky to have them around.

"... completely locked-down"??? A bit too far, G... Tell that to the folks at BMUG and the thousands they inspired to open and extend their Macs. And what about BMUG's notable offshoot, Farallon, which began as a handful of BMUGgers' hacks (PhoneNET, MacRecorder, and Soundedit). Or those who used ThunderScan which converted an ImageWriter into an image scanner.

Yes, one needed a Torx screwdriver and two hands to open a Mac case, but it was far from "impossible to open." And it was trivial to get (or make) an adapter to use a "standard" DB-n plug. And yes, there were no slots (until later), but on balance, nearly every design decision Jobs made was sound.

I'm no Jobsophile, but I never had a problem with the Mac being so closed. To this day I need zero anti-virus or spyware software.

I, too, miss Woz, his contributions and philosophy, but Jobs's Apple needn't apologize.

Regards,
Maurice

>iPhones in the US cost $199.

Yeah... $199 plus $360/year != low cost.