I have a sixth category (or 7th, if you count borrowing from friends) -- go to a bookstore, sit in a comfy armchair, and read a book there without buying.
A lot of my e-books I got from p2p (whether or not they were free originally I have no idea), and most of them would fall under categories 2 6 & 7, if e-books weren't an option. They're random books that other people seem to like, so I'll give them a try -- but I generally read them once and forget them. I wouldn't spend money on them if ebooks weren't an option.
If it's an author I like or think I should support (because I know they're a new or midlist author, or someone who I'm friend-of-friend-of-friends with), I will make an effort to find a purchasable/legal copy of their book, before I try to download it from P2P.
no subject
A lot of my e-books I got from p2p (whether or not they were free originally I have no idea), and most of them would fall under categories 2 6 & 7, if e-books weren't an option. They're random books that other people seem to like, so I'll give them a try -- but I generally read them once and forget them. I wouldn't spend money on them if ebooks weren't an option.
If it's an author I like or think I should support (because I know they're a new or midlist author, or someone who I'm friend-of-friend-of-friends with), I will make an effort to find a purchasable/legal copy of their book, before I try to download it from P2P.