I'll preface this with a disclosure. I participate in a Netflix affiliates program on my web sites, so I get a small amount whenever someone subscribes to the service via my links. In the 3-4 years that I've had them, I've made less than $30, which explains why I am able to live in baronial splendor.
I've also been a Netflix member for several years using the 3-at-a-time "unlimited" plan. I realize that unilimited should mean exactly that -- unlimited, but I also think it's a bit naive to expect any business to provide a service at a loss. The reality of my own use of the service is that I don't have the time to watch more than 3 discs a week, and they've managed to get them out to me at that rate. I've not had trouble getting new releases, but then again there are few movies that I have had at the top of my queue during the first few weeks of their release. So I get around 12-15 DVDs a month, and, for me, that's still cheaper than upgrading my cable service to include premium channels. Netflix lowered their prices when Blockbuster introduced their online rental service. (I think that's the only monthly bill I pay that has ever been reduced.)
I do know of someone who has experienced throttling, but they were returning all 3 of their discs the day after they received them. (Take a wild guess what they were doing with them.) What Netflix will do is start sending your movies with return mailers addressed to distribution centers that are much farther away -- West Coast for people on the East Coast, for example. With this particular person, it's really hard for me to feel sorry for them over the throttling. (It isn't anyone on this board.
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