This discussion is being bedevilled by the conflation of distinct issues.

The first is whether downloading (of any particular kind) is lawful.

The second is whether it would be to anyone's economic benefit if a downloader actually paid for a particular download or indeed downloads in general.

The third is what is for the optimum aggregate public benefit (whether economic or other)

The fourth is whether effecting free downloads is moral, or "right".

Some may or may not coincide, but no two are necessarily the same.