If I'm hit with a 5 (or 6!) figure suit, I don't care. I'll tell people myself I watch porn. No one would care anyway. Overall, this is one way society would be a little better if people were a little less prudish.
Beyond which, fighting a 6 figure lawsuit rather than taking a 4 digit settlement can be a dangerous gamble, especially if the copyright infringement did actually take place.
Not to say that I agree with what they're doing, but I can certainly understand why people just take the settlement and move on.
if (shame)
But it's almost certainly this:
if (bankruptcy_risk || shame)
History of RIAA settlements-- where prudishness wasn't a factor-- supports my interpretation.
Furthermore, savings held by the average American supports short-circuiting on bankruptcy_risk and not the other way around.
Edit: clarification
Plus, now that people heard about Strike 3 Holdings, breach happening in: 10, 9, 8, 7 ....
Shutting for sarcastic not offensive :)