regarding the price of equipment is kinda irrelevant, as the cost of releasing it gone up. Plus aint as many shows livewise, which used to be one of the bread and butter of bands and artists.
The thing of producing an album being almost prohibitive was something "invented" by the big sharks to reduce artists share, by inventing extra and inflated prices.
Also- Formats like vinyl still sell a lot as well; Sometimes more than CD tbh. Even if it is all available in E-edition for downloads, will still hurt the artist a lot.
Why is it that people dont listen to royalty free music ?!? because its not the same thing, not the same quality !! Has a different purpose !
But yeah, at the moment something needs to be done. And falling down hard on thoose that use pirate music is a start.
Look at Japan... Why you think its one of the biggest music markets ?!? Because they always been hard handed on piracy, even in the times of tape !
"AH BUT ITS KIDS MAINLY DOING IT"...Well, go down hard on their parents...Its their responsability anyway ! Same way you go to prison if you dont make sure your kids go to school, you have to be responsible for their actions.