Well, the publisher paid people for their writing (or content), and then hosts it for revenue.

The publisher didn't pay them in order to give it away for free.

If you start using digital lockpicks to pick their digital lock, and consume their content without paying, they have lost the revenue haven't they?

(Cue "they're not entitled to revenue for intangible goods", and other libertarian arguments that are internally cohesive but not accepted by the public)