Having access to every Star Trek ever was great, but Netflix's recommendation algorithm was top notch. It gave me things I would never have sought out but loved anyway.

But since Netflix started just pushing their own shit, regardless of whether I'd like it or whether I'd already watched it or whether it was literally cancelled by Netflix it's enshittified to the point I don't know why I still pay for it.

[–] BolexForSoup@kbin.social 4 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

As somebody who has been using Netflix since before they even had streaming as an option, I think a lot of people really over-inflate how good the offering was in the early years of their streaming unless you just loved watching reruns of cable television from the 90s and 2000s.

Make no mistake, the offering now is worse. But it’s not like it was truly a central, low priced hub for everything you wanted to watch.

[–] snooggums@midwest.social 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It wasn't just the content, it was the delivery of watching whatever you chose whenever you chose and wherever you chose for a reasonable monthly fee. Even without a massive catalogue it was 1000 times better than cable and the existing services that charged stupidly high fees for on demand temporary access.

It did have a lot of movies in addition to the series though, even if I had seen most of them because they started with the popular ones.

[–] BolexForSoup@kbin.social 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Honestly, what I miss most about early Netflix was the insane library they had of documentaries

[–] snooggums@midwest.social 4 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Good documentaries from quality sources too, like Planet Earth!

Not the sensationalist garbage they put out under their brand now.

[–] BolexForSoup@kbin.social 3 points 9 months ago

Or Amazon putting out that dogshit Jim Caviezel right wing trash

[–] GregorGizeh@lemmy.zip 2 points 9 months ago

Yeah I guess I’m overstating my case a bit. But still, when it was the place for legal streaming the piracy numbers were at an all time low. Turns out people don’t mind paying a fair sum for good availability and convenience.

[–] GlitterInfection@lemmy.world 0 points 9 months ago

It doesn't seem like anything to me...

[–] thebuoyancyofcitrus@beehaw.org 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

But would it disappear someday without warning? I'm not one to do a lot of pirating but the times I'm most tempted to take up the habit are when things that were supposed to be "purchased" just disappear and there's nothing customers can do about it...or when I see some crazy anti-pirating argument. The urge to do it out of spite is real.

[–] apis@beehaw.org 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Depends whether or not they hide some code to give them the option to remote disable your files after you've downloaded them, and if they to restrict your ability to create backup copies & play your files on devices you own.

There's no reason why they couldn't make stuff available in ways which buyers could feel confident in.

[–] thebuoyancyofcitrus@beehaw.org 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I've definitely appreciated when certain cool, open minded creators have released content DRM free but they are going against the grain of the big money platforms. But, I agree, like many things that would make the world a little cooler, there's no concrete reason it couldn't be done.

[–] apis@beehaw.org 3 points 9 months ago

Likely going to have to be forced on the industry, by some mix of piracy, legislation, reality & artists' choices.

Meantime, convenience has considerable sway. For the generations for whom music was expensive & awkward to acquire (& who have the most disposable income now to spend on music as well as the most faith in companies), this still seems easier than pushing back.