Pop quiz - is downloading copyright material theft?

No. It's copyright infringement. The MPAA and others have engaged in a campaign of misinformation to frighten and bully people. I don't endorse copyright violations, but be clear: if you use Pirate Bay or others to located freely shared digital content, that may *perhaps* be copyright infringement, but it is not theft. Don't take my word for it, I'm only reporting facts from lawyers.