I pay for a VPN and don’t use it for piracy.
I pay for Usenet and I use it for piracy.
Money has never really been a consideration as to whether I pirate or not.
If you want to know why I pirate stuff you can thank Mediacom, after becoming nearly homicidal talking to their “tech support” line for 2 years (I was locked in a 2 year contract), I decided to never pay directly for media again.
12 years and counting
If they can get 10 miles past Tokmak they can rain hell on the M14 highway with 155mm howitzers, cutting off most supplies reaching Melitopol and areas farther south.
Then if they dig in and hold it becomes a waiting game.