No, that's about what it is, SteinwayGuy, and for the most part I agree with you. On the other hand, I realise that FTPs can be justifiable inasmuchas they allow better access to recordings and videos that are NOT, and probably never will be, for commercial retail. For instance, imagine someone putting up some "pirated" recordings from a well-known, but publicly undocumented recital of...I dunno, Michelangeli. Well, Michelangeli is dead, so we're never going to hear him play live...ever. For many legendary pianists, some of us didn't even have a chance to hear them live because they lived (and died) long ago.
But, I AM against putting commercial recordings of anyone on FTP sites because it always hurts the record companies. I admit that I have downloaded a few recordings less-than-legally, but 97% of the time (ie, literally as much of the time as I liked the recordings) I guilt-trip myself into buying the CD. The original download was only for sampling purposes. But I don't think many people actually go that far. To them, it's just a cheap way of mooching off of others and reaping the benefits.
Now, that's not to say I'm against FTPs, mind. Just remember that I, for one, wouldn't enjoy seeing EMI and Hyperion discs popping up in one...