I hope you have a fire extinguisher handy because you are about to get flamed. Not by me, though, because I agree with you 100%. The file thiefs will have excuse after excuse as to why stealing someone else's work product is legally and/or morally justified, but the bottom line is that stealing the music is no different than going to the corner mini-mart and stealing a tank of gas. (The oil companies deserve it because they charge too much per gallon, manipulate the market to screw the consumer, and rip the consumer off.)
It is copyright infringement, not theft. Although all of us would use common language of "theft" to describe it. Indeed the RIAA will charge "copyright infringement".
No, it's not the same as stealing a tank of gas, at least as far as the laws says. Nevertheless, copyright infringement is sure illegal!
IMO lawsuits won't even put a dent in filesharing. The technology moves too fast.
If the RIAA wants to minimize filesharing (they'll never end it, nor do they want to IMO), then they'll adjust their distribution methods to more closely accommodate the existing technology and will continue to adapt to it.
JMHO