MatthewHSE - 2:32 am on Oct 6, 2007 (gmt 0)

iTunes sells tracks at 99 cents, so the retail value of the items stolen can be confirmed as $23.76.

I really like you, encyclo, so I say this respectfully, but you're off with that statement. ;) The value is whatever price is assigned to it, or if you prefer, whatever people will pay. You can't choose one source and claim that they set the market value.

How does the outcome compare, say, to a case of a thief stealing 24 physical CD-singles from a store?

The thief would get prison time, probably wouldn't even be asked to pay anything. Both are lawbreakers, and as such, should not expect to be treated with leniency.

What on earth are these guys thinking when they treat their customer base this way? (the defendant was an avid music fan who owns a collection of over 500 music CDs, representing thousands of dollars of income for the RIAA's members.)

If a bank or store is robbed by one of its own customers, would you expect them not to press charges?

The penalty is exaggerated to the extreme - it is totally disproportionate to the crime

I think I can agree with you there. However, it was determined according to the rule of law. The guilty can't choose their own punishments.