Reply To: Copying Music Redux

and there is no acceptable rationalization that “I would not have bought it anyway”.

That site says b’sheim Rav Belsky (based on Rav Moshe): The guideline here involves whether or not what you’re doing is taking away a sale from the owner. One might say, if asked this question, “Oh, I would never have bought that anyway.” But in fact you shouldn’t say that. You do like it … and you would have bought it.

It seems to concede if in fact you would never have bought it (for whatever reasons), it would be permissible. But he feels that if it is still being sold, it is unfair to think you would not have otherwise purchased it.