I do not think Strike Subs are stealing the official subs. Unless you can provide proof otherwise, I see this as just baseless argument to try to save your own ass. Because it's irrelevant in the main matter at hand, Who really cares? SSubs released a higher quality on their original release (which can be seen from their site), and THEN did a DVD rip even going as far as redoing multiple episodes for color quality (which can also be found in the archives of the website as well).

As much as it pains me to say this, yes, the official companies are indeed providing a "legal alternative" to fansubbing, but only on select and most of the time POPULAR anime. Not all of it. I wouldn't be able to find half the anime I have on my HD online ANYWHERE to watch, even on megaupload and whatnot.

If they would give quality releases that don't require really fast internet speed / cpu power/speed to load and watch them (which alot of people do not have), They may have more ground to stand on. But they do not.

As Artefact said, most of the anime popularity, in the US alone, is from raw rips and the fansubs that follow. Manga is no exception to this rule, as manga and doujins are released with translations, that's the main popularity source.

Of course, since this was all in 2008, times have changed now. But to this date now, in May of 2010, we still do not have quality subs for most anime. The quality we DO gain is from the most popular anime like bleach/naruto/FMA/ and whatnot. All of that can be found online with HQ and subs, but of course. There are many times more fans who watch mainstream anime then those who watch a wide variety.

It saddens me to see that most websites only cater to those who can easily watch the same anime elsewhere only because there's a huge mass of those not smart enough to delve deeper. That is truly the problem of today. They do not release ALL titles, effectively reducing the anime we are exposed to, making most people, as we call them, "Cartoon Network Junkies". Thus when we don't know about others, do not look them up, and continue to watch popular shows without knowing there's so much better out there. It's a shame.

There's nothing illegal about a fansub whatsoever.
The people who watch the shows when they air on tv pay their tv provider and use the access the provider gives them to watch any show airing including anime.

The people who watch fansubs pay their internet provider to have access to the internet and can use that access to download fansubs and watch them.

We both pay and I see nothing illegal taking place.
But I would love to hear an actual reason as to why you think fansubs are "illegal."

Otherwise, it was completely Gonzo-esque to pull some plot-twist at the end with Minna drawing a gun like that.

Now can we get back to discussing the distressing lack of not-pantsu...

I'm willing to believe that you didn't know what you were talking about, because there's no way to defend your position otherwise.

And Strike Subs are two weeks behind anyways.

And it should be plain by now that fansubs are the major factor behind the rise of anime in recent years, so frankly I am sceptical of whether there is even a need for an alternative, even from a commerical standpoint, given that no amount of marketing could likely have replicated the success of a franchise like Naruto.

They are welcome to pull their fingers out and start distributing their properties online in HD, but I don't see them making much effort in this direction.