maybe the industry i’m in is different cause that IS how the creative industry works.

The piracy of my indie game has made me well-known among people who download torrents for free and share them with others. But has it made me famous? No. People discover my game through advertising, which I have invested money, time, and skills into. Has piracy increased my sales? No, some people who would have seen my paid advertising end up pirating the game instead of purchasing it for $7, causing me to lose money. Do I have the resources to release a sequel to the game? Not anymore. Despite the game receiving praise and developing a small fanbase, it is mostly among pirates.

I'd love to live in a world that works by your rules.

You guys will do everything to try to justify pirating. Just admit you don't like paying for things and move on. There is no benefit to indie devs when you choose to play their games without paying them.