Netflix Prices Went Up Again – I Bought a DVD Player Instead

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Return to Physical Media & Alternatives

  • Many see rising streaming prices and ads as a push back to DVDs/Blu-rays, external drives, and local playback.
  • Some resurrect old consoles (PS3/PS5) or buy cheap Blu‑ray players from thrift stores.
  • Others find physical discs’ UX (menus, FBI warnings, finicky players) clunky and end up ripping everything anyway.

Libraries, Kanopy & Hoopla

  • Public libraries are widely praised as a free or cheap source of DVDs/Blu-rays, games, and streaming (Kanopy, Hoopla, Libby, etc.).
  • Experiences differ: some report long waitlists and limited collections; others say shelves are underused.
  • Debate over library economics: some argue costs per checkout/visit are high; others call it excellent public value and note libraries also run programs and provide community space.

Video & Audio Quality: Discs vs Streaming

  • Strong consensus that Blu-ray and especially 4K UHD discs beat typical streaming bitrates, especially on large screens.
  • Disagreement on DVD quality: some find 480p MPEG‑2 unacceptable on modern displays; others say good upscaling and modest screen sizes make it fine.
  • Audio: lossless Blu‑ray tracks and proper Atmos/TrueHD support on certain devices are key reasons some prefer local playback.

Ripping, Home Media Servers & Piracy

  • Many run Plex/Jellyfin/Emby on NAS/seedboxes with automation tools (Radarr/Sonarr) and view this as “better than Netflix”.
  • Legal status of ripping is contested: users distinguish between likely-illegal DRM circumvention and widely accepted personal backup ethics.
  • Private trackers, seedboxes, and “sailing the high seas” are repeatedly mentioned as responses to “enshittified” streaming.

Cost, Value & Subscription Strategies

  • Users recall Netflix DVDs as fast, cheap, and generous; modern mail-rental clones are seen as slower and pricier, partly due to scale.
  • Common strategy: rotate a single streaming service, binge, then cancel; some want automation for subscribe/cancel cycles.
  • Others quit streaming entirely, reporting more reading, hobbies, and better sleep.

Cultural & Content Concerns

  • Complaints about constant removals, edited “for modern audiences,” and lack of physical releases for some shows.
  • Split views on current content quality: some see a post‑2020 decline; others argue there’s always been lots of “trash” around a smaller core of good work.