But the funny thing is that essentially we end up "renting" video and audio content no matter what format we acquire it in. Think about all those albums, VHS tapes, cassettes, and now CDs that you don't even use/have anymore because you re-purchased your videos/music in the latest formats simply out of convenience (or because your VCR broke and it would cost more than a new DVD player to fix it.)

Thorny

After several bad purchases, the wife and I have a strict no-blind-buy policy for DVDs now. So, I feel compelled to see a movie in theaters, on DVD, or TV at least once prior to purchase.

Most typically, we rent movies first, then purchase, which "raises" the overall cost of getting the movie a few bucks. The ability to "buy" a movie for a more-or-less regular street price, preview it, then decide for myself whether or not I want to keep the hard copy or resell it, sounds like just the kind of consumer choice we all bitch about wanting most of the time.

MikeHerbst

suburbancowboy

attackgypsy

firesign

I guess you'd do this if you're really into DVD extras, but want to watch the movie right now?

glitterpig

dvdchris

An example: Tonight, I had the sudden urge to watch Good Morning Vietnam. I do not have this in my collection, so I started checking all the local stores. Both Worst Buy and Circuit Sucky only offered it via shipping.

Had this service been available to me (I have Comcast) I would have happily paid for the DVD had I been able to watch the stream immediately.

Perhaps this is the one type of market they had in mind?

TTFK

CumaeanSibyl

redkamel

Sherryness

edrebber

ConnertheCat

mycroft2000

AmericaTheBrave

ClayS