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I still can't stream HD video from Google Play or Amazon because I use OSX and an external monitor.[1] I have no problem paying for content... if I could actually watch it.

[1]: https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/2528768

Wow that's just stupid. This is a crappy workaround, but what happens if you enable display mirroring for your external display? It kills your dual display setup while watching, but it may enable HD streaming for you. I have not tested it, just a theory. YMMV.

Cancelled Netflix because of this. Now I just go Usenet/Plex. Can't and won't look back.

It's weirdly user hostile when other things they do aren't. Their policy of allowing multiple streams from a single login allows password sharing which is great - it probably generates sales eventually but it doesn't seem that these two policies completely square with each other.

I suspect the DRM requirements are demanded by content owners of third-party content, and it's easier for Netflix to just have consistent requirements than to vary them from item to item.