You're right, Robbie - he didn't create those websites or invent the tube business or anything like that ... but (with no emotion - strictly from a business perspective) that certainly doesn't minimize the order of magnitude of what he's been able to create as a functionally profitable behemoth of a business OR make him an idiot IMHO
SOMEHOW (by leveraging OPM or however these deals were financed) what occurred was a systematic "roll up" of a tremendous portion of the highest trafficked sites and companies in the adult space, coupled with some incredible top shelf content driven membership sites and company acquisitions (Twisty's, RK and DP to name three) and the strategic licensing of the Playboy brand (both online and in the cable/satellite markets) - all the while vertically integrating everything, connecting all the dots and ultimately dominating traffic in the adult space in just a couple or so short years.
When I simply look at "the business side" and step outside of my own "bubble" I don't get emotional about how my own content licensing business suffered, became commoditized and its value became incredibly minimized. I looked at it logically back when I saw the writing on the wall. I decided it was no longer going to be worth my time in the near term and the window of opportunity for me would be closing. So, I played it out until it died and moved on to greener pastures BEFORE it did completely. That being said, of course I empathize with companies and individuals that have suffered a tremendous loss of traffic and/or revenues - and from a humanistic standpoint, I'm also sympathetic to those who couldn't or can't figure out how to how to stay in business and compete or move on to their own next thing(s) like I did.
However, just like any other maturing business - things change and unimaginably disruptive business models take the place of previously highly profitable ones. Historically, it almost always happens - and oftentimes most aren't prepared. That happened on a massive scale here and is definitely sad for many!
I'm not going to comment on Fabian's tax troubles or how tubes leverage loopholes in copyright laws - because what unfolds in regard to both still remains to be seen.
Anyway, I'll end my little diatribe here - regardless of what OR how you and I think ... obviously everyone is entitled to their opinion
