There are some valid points
Although I don't like it, I have to second that. These are valid points.
Let's face it , we are not THAT rich to pay a monthly fee covering free lunch on every AV/SW work. Every album, movie or software application is a work of tens, hundreds or even more people that want desperately to pay their taxes :)
When talking music, people say something about "artist" - well, great artist some songwriter/performer may be, but you hear the difference, when he/she records something in a garage, especially without other people helping. Well, at least if you are not deaf (or listening to iPod). Usually, it sounds sh*t. There are notable exceptions in completely electronic music, such as techno (the real deal, not the "techno" for gullible masses), but that kind of music is culturally a bit different and far ahead in distribution and other related matters.
And guess what - recording equipment, people who know how to operate it, people that are able to give it sound quality, are expensive. As in "really expensive". The same stands for film. People don't download that many artistic, low cost, or amateur movies, but they download blockbusters. They really, really do.
I think, the solution may be in free previews (full length, low quality, possibly with some short ad at the beginning, or end of the mp3). Many, if not majority of people download just to find out, to broaden their horizons. If they like it enough, they may buy it in a higher quality, provided the studio doesn't go mental with the price and DRM.
And now, at the end, my old gripe - why the studios do not make their music/movies really available? If they no longer press some CD/DVD, there usually is no way how to buy it. Especially with geographic limitations. I want to buy some albums, I really do, I do have the money, I would gladly part with them for the album, but I can't. These people just don't get it.