The programmer sees an incredibly small fraction of the price I pay for videogames, and that never bothered me either.

I know the general "I support the band but hate the big megacorp behind it" is popular in some places on the Internet, but at least here, I can come out and say "I don't think the people who provide capital and marketing are parasites".

I don't "hate the big megacorp" at all. I just think it's no longer necessary.

That same band still chooses to work with the big labels.

I might not buy cd's as a protest against the way the labels behave, but I don't see the need to protect the bands from the labels. If the bands don't like to work with the labels, then they can refrain from doing so and sell their music themselves.

Who is forcing them to put out a CD, if it is not worth it for them?