Unless you run a VPN

If perfected means they put it even where probably there wasn’t a need for it, then yes. HSR is fantastic for connecting big cities, but it’s also very expensive and sometimes China has prioritized HSR rather than regular rail, even though there wasn’t a strict need for very fast expensive trains. Sometimes slower, more frequent and cheaper low speed rail can make more sense.

It’s not bad per se, but it’s money that could be used for better purposes.

That’s not at all how piracy works. They don’t lose any money by me not buying their product, the money was never theirs to lose. They can earn money if I buy it, but if I don’t, then nothing changed. It’s not like every company is entitled to my money.

Pirating or using Gimp or Krita instead, has the exact same effect on them, ie me not buying their product.