P2P with Skinkers and LiveStation

I just don’t get why Peer-to-Peer is a great way of distributing TV-like content. It’s just like having your windows open with no screens during the summer. Sure you get that cool breeze of fast downloaded video, but you let all those bloodsucking mosquitoes in. Akamai and Limelight get paid for hosting files. Is what you download worth providing other people with free hosting, your internet ‘pipe’ and the wear and tear on your computer?