You could argue that unless pirated software gets distributed somehow, the classic Amiga will disappear completely. I see 'new' Amigans popping up in the groups all the time. They obviously need a continuing source of software to maintain that initial interest and in nine cases out of ten, they'll end up running bootleg copies. The dilemma for some, is whether the Amiga's unique fascination is worth that price. Realistically, almost every floppy game ever retailed will become unusable through age. Should nobody after that point be permitted to savour it's uniqueness?
As I've said elsewhere today, I have no particular hangups about copying games that are no longer available from retailers nor from companies long since in oblivion. Whether you use such stuff yourself is a matter of personal choice. I know many Amigans are passionate about retaining or preserving a semblence of purity, but there's a reality check as well as an ethical/legal stand to be made. The days of blaming the pirates for killing off the Amiga have long since passed into history. Whether that history includes the next five years could depend in part on peoples' attitude towards copying/distributing obsolete software.
As for eBay, it would be better if those selling pirated games actually admitted to it. Many people buying Amiga software there know a large proportion of it will be copied. Though eBay are anti-copying by statute, they really only police it by responding to complaints from the public. They try to maintain an 'anti' image, but only if they have to. If nobody complained, eBay will be happy to take their fees, for pirated software or otherwise. The truly bad issue is of sellers taking someone's money by conning them into believing the stuff is genuine. If they sold copies as copies, they'd get the an appropriate response from punters.
JaX
