You don't have to have sympathy for them, but if you appreciate the numbers being made available, surely we could do something to ensure that they don't have to be so scared of the NPD-cops that we eventually won't get those numbers. Because the way we post and discuss those numbers here can be seen even by non-members from a simple google search.

You don't appreciate NPD numbers being made available by an insider?
Or do you mean that you do, but you don't want to go through any trouble to try to ensure that we still get those numbers?
As for what we can do, who says it has to be overly complicated? My suggestion was to make these topics only viewable to registered members witha  certain post count. If many people brainstorm ideas, they might be able to come up with something better than that, or better than PMing each other about it.

As for mod cops, it's not impossible that they are ok with the numbers being discussed ina  secluded manner like on GAF, rather than appearing for everyone to see and spread as easily as we are making it by having these topics viewable by anyone.

Whether Aqua wants spotlight or not is not the concern here.
It's whether or not we want to keep getting these numbers, and if we can do something to post them in a mroe discrete manner that Aqua finds acceptable.
Simply assuming that we will anyway is not a productive way to go about it if there's somethign we could potentially do.
We'll surely get numbers from someone, but the problem is, without established crediblity behind those numbers, there's no way of confirming if they are correct or not. From my understanding, Aqua is the last remaining leaker with established credibilty. The other one quit leaking after being scared off by "NPD cops".

Perhaps. But if you still want to do it, and there are ways to make it a bit safer, then that's another way to go about it. There are many file sharing sites that only share with registered members, password protected zip files, or user term agreements that basically prevent the information from legally leaving the site, if you agree to sign up for it. This is mainly done to prevent "mod-cops" from entering the site and reporting them for what they find there, since they had to sign the agreement to become a member.
Now as for the poeople who make use of what they offer, and enjoy it, I think if they can do something to show some support, that's not too much to ask for. Not as a demand, but a possibility. That's why we can discuss it here.

I didn't say it was to stop the further distribution of the illegal material. I said the information, as in everything that surrounds it, which they can own, and can be neccesary to link something to a person. I don't remember the extent of the details, but I know some sites have done it. Either way it was just an example. The point is that even those who do these things tend to take precautions.

As for not respecting the wishes of someone who didn't obey a contract, you're acting as if you've never downloaded a song, movie, series, etc or anything ilegal in your life. You probably have, and I'm sure you knew full well that someone else owns the rights to it and doesn't want you to obtain it that way, but didn't care. I doubt many in our generation are in a position to look down on someone else for doing something illegal online at some point or other. Just because one person signs a contract and one doesn't doesnt mean it's not illegal.

Anyway, the focus isn't how or why Aqua is doing what she is doing. It's what do we want to do, for us.

I didn't say it was to stop the further distribution of the illegal material. I said the information, as in everything that surrounds it, which they can own, and can be neccesary to link something to a person. I don't remember the extent of the details, but I know some sites have done it. Either way it was just an example. The point is that even those who do these things tend to take precautions.

As for not respecting the wishes of someone who didn't obey a contract, you're acting as if you've never downloaded a song, movie, series, etc or anything ilegal in your life. You probably have, and I'm sure you knew full well that someone else owns the rights to it and doesn't want you to obtain it that way, but didn't care. I doubt many in our generation are in a position to look down on someone else for doing something illegal online at some point or other. Just because one person signs a contract and one doesn't doesnt mean it's not illegal.

Anyway, the focus isn't how or why Aqua is doing what she is doing. It's what do we want to do, for us.