timppu: Yeah, well, when e.g. the ticket inspectors catch you riding a bus without a valid ticket, it isn't like they are going to charge you only for the price of the missing ticket. That would only make sure no one would pay for the ticket (until caught). :)
keeveek: SimonG explained this gazillion of times. Letters like "Pay us 300 euros for a pirated game or we will sue you for 3000 euros, so you better pay" may be seen as a criminal extortion. At least in Germany.
Or like the ticket inspectors: "Pay 200€ + price of a single ticket for the missing ticket (which you either didn't buy at all, or have just temporarily misplaced), or get sued for worse, it goes to distraint, or worse.".
The same still applies: if I know I have bought the ticket but I simply forgot it home, I'll go show them at the station later, proving that I don't owe them anything. Or if I know I have not pirated/shared Witcher 1-2 on my PC, I'll send the lawyer firm a polite letter/email back "I am awfully sorry, but go fjuck yourselves. I have never pirated nor shared the said items. If you feel you still want to sue me over something I have not done, try me. Have a nice day.".
But as said, I would have preferred that they would have simply sued (for 3000€, or 300000€, or whatever) the cases they feel would hold water,