Firefox 4. You would, or you know anyone on the face of the planet, who would buy Rapidshare premium account, to download Firefox 4, when he can download it for free from developer itself? Only scenario I can think of, that someone download firefox trough rapidshare link is that he:
1. Can't access Mozilla website at all.
2. Already have RS account,, bought for downloading warez, and just stumbled on Firefox that was rared inside a movie he downloaded.
3. There is no 3rd option that I can recall.
Download itself doesn't produce earnings for Rapidshare, selling account does.
On second one, I don't use any statistics, except naked observation of their actions.
They say everything about them that can be said.
Simple statistics.
When I upload lets say...10TB of files, on some file-host, during 6 months, and then stop uploading, do you think my 'earnings' would drop instantly? Nope, they wont.
Simply, because people will bump those topics I post my links long time, after I stopped, if files aren't deleted.
I have 6-7 megatopics on WBB, that are still alive, and bumped regularly, because there's tons of material still alive, and worth of download. That still brings them traffic and downloads...but, how my topics are dying, they are dying too...less and less bumps, after a year, less and less traffic they get...they are dying slowly, because they didn't deleted files, warez files that are still on their servers. They know that, and they are using that, to stay alive.
Introducing rapids, isn't marketing....that is one of worst things they ever did.
They did that, because they wanted to save earned money, to keep themselves alive more, because they had to ban shiload of uploaders. That is why they limited download, and kept the files. To be more alive. No marketing. Survival.
Because of THAT decision, lots of even downloaders, moved from them, and picked new ones.
Maybe you don't see how many Filesonic accounts are sold in playsonic? From where do you think all those downloaders, premiums, are coming, since RS was the only decent file-host, besides megaupload?
Rapidshare is not a charity? Hm...As far as I remember, they WERE charity, with their charity program, when they got lawsuit, so they can look like an angels in lawsuit.
Another trick, to stay alive.
I don't have a loss with Rapidshare, whatever I do, I do it for fun, and whenever possible, few extra $, nothing else.
Yes, RS policy....As I said, they kept files, didn't delete them. If they are so strong, why they rely on my files bringing them traffic, why not deleting all files with terminated accounts? Because they would completely emptied their servers. Nothing attractive would be left, for them to make money on.
I love Rapidshare too, smooth, fast, no hickups.
But I am a bit more realistic, and in uploading waters, to know what is going on

Majority of uploaders still using RS just to have bumps, and 'thanks for RS' on their topic.
So, YES, they ARE dependant on warez uploaders. Why? How? MOST OF DLL sites ask RS links as primary, but all others, Fileserve, filesonic and others are there too. There isn't too much topics with RS EXCLUSIVE. But there is SHITLOAD of EXCLUSIVE FILESONIC and FILESERVE topics...
Lots of folks still have their accounts, because they don't download too much, but even if minority doesn't renew their accounts on RS, it means they are loosing the battle.
Today 9 accounts, tommorow 8 , day after that 7....etc...
You actually told me how file-host depends on uploaders, and you still don't realize that ?????? omg...
Where do you think files are coming from? From thin air?
Here is the simplest math I can make up here, for bettter understanding.
Lets assume I am the only uploader in the world.
And there is 10 file-hosts.
The one I, as uploader, pick to upload to, will make money.
IF he's going down for other, 3rd party reasons, wherever I move, that file-host will make money.
It is irrelevant which file-host it is, or what happens with it, since I am the one who puts material on their servers, I advertize them, and I bring them sales. So, If I decide to move to another filehost, and leave my files I already uploaded, they will be alive as long as file-host keeps them.
Once they are all deleted, he can shut off his business.
Is it more clear now how file-host depends on uploader, and who dictate which file-host will live, and which will die? Why do you think all file-hosts are here, among uploaders group??
Yes, I know you are smarter than me, and you won't argue with an idiot...