I think we're wildly extrapolating in this report -- it's a Canadian-backed report, sure, but it's about emerging markets "at the low end of the socioeconomic ladder". I think a more interesting discussion might be about how the marginal costs of digital goods pushed towards consumers is going to be pushed closer to the cost of production for certain market segments. I don't know how to guide the discussion but I can offer some questions. Can we resegment the market and make apps for the wealthy? What is the elasticity curve, exactly, and what various strategies can we take to maximize revenue under it in this global economy?

I also don't see how you are jumping to the conclusion that ease of acquisition is the only way to compete with piracy, based on that report, or how it's particularly germane. Not to say that I disagree with it -- it's been my intuition as well, simply because people love convenience...