For a while, streaming was better than any alternative. However over the last several year prices have a
spike while the collections available for streaming have shrunk and splintered. Then a bunch of the streaming sites started adding ads for their paying customers.
At this point streaming servcies have been enshitified enough to make piracy again the better experience.
Can confirm. The only streaming service I use anymore is Disney+, and I only have it because I like to watch the new Star Wars stuff when it releases at good quality. Everything else I care to watch, which isn't much besides older stuff, I'll just torrent now.
Greedy companies really need to heed Gabe Newell's words.
I still subscribe to some of the services, but the experience has deteriorated sufficiently that at this point I rip all videos I care about and then watch them in Plex.
At this point streaming servcies have been enshitified enough to make piracy again the better experience.