I suppose if you really think about it, if the industry, middlemen, buyers and suppliers are screwing the consumers, and the consumers are screwing themselves, then really, only the industry is winning, because it all flows downstream.
Also, zircon's right. Going from 8-track, to vinyl, to tape, to CD, prices really have come down. Still, if you like an artist, but don't have the money for the CD, I have only one suggestion for you: GET A JOB AND BUY IT.
People seem to think mass screwage justifies piracy. I think not. If anything, piracy really does have an impact on the consumers themselves. Look, for example, at the prices to get into a movie at a movie theater. Locally, in my area, it's at least $9 for a regular showing after the specified matinee time. And that's JUST the ticket for the movie. Snack bar prices are outrageous. For what I pay for just a large popcorn, candy and a large soda at the theater, I could buy myself a decent steak dinner at a regular diner.
The point is, piracy hurts the artist and consumer alike. It doesn't really hurt the industry because they get paid no matter what, they just bitch because their bottom line wasn't that extra dollar that would've thrown it over the billion dollar mark.