The law has nothing to do with "making a copy" or "leaving the original intact."
Wiring into the neighborhood cable-tv network without paying is an example of "theft of services", as is sneaking into a movie theater.
Making an illegal copy still takes money out of somebody's pocket. Saying that you wouldn't (or couldn't) have bought the product makes no difference-- the demand is still being alleviated, and non-zero.
I do not take money out of anybody’s pocket when I’m pirating something I can not and will never be able to buy. (Reality is never quite that clear cut but what you are saying is, strictly speaking, not true.)
Wiring into the neighborhood cable-tv network without paying is an example of "theft of services", as is sneaking into a movie theater.
Making an illegal copy still takes money out of somebody's pocket. Saying that you wouldn't (or couldn't) have bought the product makes no difference-- the demand is still being alleviated, and non-zero.