Why whine about it at all? The way I see it, these people who sell/rent
fansubs for money is doing us a favor, by making the anime easier to get.
Perhaps someone can't find someone to trade with for a certain anime, the
bootleggers may be just what they need. Besides, $15 for 4 episodes isn't
bad if you look at the price Viz Video charges (something like $25 for 2
episodes).

Bootleggers may be just what they need? Are you on crack? Bootleggers may
give easier access to fansubs but the quality is generally bad, the
translations are always off and its way too expensive. I can get 12+
episodes for $20, and they'll last much longer, look better, be better
translated. Trades aren't the only way to recieve fansubs. Its called
"request" It only takes a money order and a stamp. Now, you tell me, which
would you rather. Subbed copies from LD or subbed copies from TV?

I think that in some cases you don't have any choice in the matter.  Take
Dragonball Z for example.  Everyone knows that it's damn near impossible to
even expect them to put Dragonball on LD, therefore you have to deal with
copies from TV.  Now it's given that someone had to sub them, but how else
would anyone else get them?  Not everyone has access to the internet, and
those that don't have to settle for going to comic conventions, and buying
their tapes!  If it weren't for 'bootleggers' then a lot of fans wouldn't
have anything but the domestic stuff . . . and we all know that the stuff
that hasn't been released domestically is much better than the stuff that
has!

Also on the part about them being generally bad, I've noticed that most of
the fansubs I get now, are generally good quality and yes they are from TV.
 Also a lot of the fansubbers, and their various distributors are EXTREMELY
busy all the time, (they have lives as well you know!) and most can expect
to wait a few weeks up to a few months just to get their tapes!  I think
that the 'bootleggers' are doing a service to a lot of fans out there.  If
you get your tapes one way, and for free . . . that's fine.  But don't try
and deprive others of thier only way to get fansubs.  

Toshiro Seiji

PS-another thing . . . it's not cheap to make fansubs and copies of fansubs
you know . . . I think it takes a lot of something called . . . money.