Lets hope for a System Shock 1 release on GoG!

I think some people are just angry that things they got for free once suddenly have a price tag. I can understand this in a way. You took away their sweets.
I wouldn't have a bad conscience to download a truly abandoned game, since there is no harm done. I think I still have some in a remote corner of my HD.
Other than that I fully agree with your post. And I'm glad GOG doesn't send C&D letters. I would be useless anyways - all popular GOG games are available in the torrent networks.

Well said, my friend, well said! :)

I wouldn't be here if I thought otherwise. I even bought some games that I already legally owned. The service getting them running "out of the box" is just worth it.

System Shock 1 and GOG must be together... :\

If they really think this, they're stupid. Their DRM-infested games are pirated also.

Well people here indeed make them out to be stupid.

(emphasis mine)
wat
Do I need to post that piglet cartoon?

Legally, there's no difference between downloading software that's currently sold and that's currently not being sold. You know you don't have permission, you're making copies, it's not 70 years old -> illegal.

Morally, rightsholders of abandonware and ex-abandonware deserve dick. Copyright allegedly exists to benefit the creation of new art. You might make a convincing case for paying for indie games that are currently being sold (and that you like) so that the proceeds can fund the creation of a new game by the same people. If it's not the case, there's nothing morally wrong whatsoever with making an illegal copy, no matter if the game is sold or not and by whom.

Now, I buy games on GOG, and I haven't played a pirated game in like 7 years. Why?

Because GOG provides a service: they curate my game collection. They host the files, provide fast downloads on demand whenever and wherever, they package installers, fix bugs, host the community, provide metadata, additional recommendations on improving my gaming experience, and thoughtful advice on expanding my collection. That's a valuable service that I'm willing to pay for. The fact that some of my money goes to the assorted cultural squatters and leeches is unfortunate, but it's the only way GOG can actually have a legal business providing the service.

And I will never understand people who complain about GOG and ex-abandonware. They used to be able to illegally download amateur-made game packages that weren't guaranteed to work. Now they can illegally download shiny polished installers that have much better chances of working OR legally download the same installers and receive lifetime hosting and tech support service for a small one-time fee, OR download the same old amateur-made packages but from another site, and regardless of the option they choose, they also have a bonus in the form of a more or less active community generating all sorts of metadata. That's an all-around win regardless of your opinion on copyright. Are they luddite hipsters, sad because their precious secret favorites that only they knew how to run and to appreciate are being fished out of the collective memory hole and distributed to the philistines who might have never seen a dos prompt?

I think I worded that poorly. What I meant was GOG doesn't worry about the pirates; they pursue honest folks in a good way, giving them rewards for buying games, money-back guarantee, etc.

I think you are probably mistaken, the fs2 installer you speak of has been down for a couplel years, and only just now came back and it certainly hasn't included any volition files since GoG released FS2. The community made a huge point of it.

Could be. My memory is kinda blurry. I only know that I always copied over some files from the game install. But I also always used FSPort.
If SCP forces people to actually buy the game - I'm totally fine with this now that it's officially available again.

Just like when SS1 makes it to GOG, I'll probably buy it (again) but still use the SSP version.

^This. Oh so much this.

Nope, never going to happen. Maybe a year ago when Night Dive still had some credibility, but not in this post-"we're going to waste three days of your time hyping up a new release, and then reveal that it's actually just us putting Harvester on Steam" world.