I could point out that Hitler also ignored any laws he didn't like
No, he was head of the ruling party so simply changed them to suit their agenda - its what governments do all the time. It was an extreme example to show laws are not always about what is right and wrong, and nor do they always take everyones interests into fair account.-Bottom line is all the laws, protection and moaning in the world wont stop it and never has.
-Downloading is morally wrong unless you honour what you use by paying for it (to those that made it/authorised retailer).
-People will always download stuff, and will always push it further underground each time steps are made to try and stop it.
-The further its pushed the bigger the headache for everyone; developers, consumers, pirates and law enforcement.
-Whats legal in one place is not in another, making it even more difficult (unless you want to have a chinese approach to the internet where everything is blocked)