<<If it wasn't for companies/people like Napster and DVD Decrypter we consumers would have far fewer choices on what we can do with that intellectual property once we PAY for it. >>
I think that is the other way around, Duff.
The (copying) programs themselves were probably problematic enough for the content owners prior to Napster, and Kazaa, as they allowed for the potential pirating of software but I believe that Napster, and their kind, facilitated and, in a way, made more acceptable the every day (illegal) trading/pirating of copyrighted content.
Just as in most cases, tbe abusers are the ones that make it more difficult for the people who would use those programs fairly, for legitamate use.
If instead of obtaining illegal copies more people actually bought, or rented, their movies and music the cost to us for the media would probably be less and we surely would have more options to use those programs to back up our favorite movies or to rip our favorite music onto more devices.