I really feel the best solution is to make an update to the Time Capsule called "Time Server" which would double up as your backup solution and also a dedicated iTunes server.
That would be great: basically allowing Time Capsules to work as true iTunes servers that can remain on when your computer is off and serve audio AND video to your Apple TV's, iphones, iPads. (My understanding is that current "iTunes Server" protocols exist that allow a NAS storage system to serve iTunes music, but not video, through DLNA.)
Apple could market the product easily: "your music, your video, your photos (maybe?), anywhere any time." It would be an updated capsule that serves as your router, you computer backup, and your iTunes Server. This would dovetail nicely with their efforts to keep going thinner and more minimalist with computers (macbook air, new iMac). With smaller desktop units that go heavily to flash storage, why not just have a second, non-mobile unit like time capsule that can hold those big iPhoto, iMovie, and iTunes libraries, and serve them to all your macs, ipads, and iphones? No "synching" required. Not only do I think this is a good idea, I think there is some likelihood apple will eventually do it. .. .
. . .UNLESS they decide to go completely cloud-based. In which case they may eventually discontinue time capsule altogether and instead offer an "iCloud" service to backup your mac.
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Actually, I've warmed up to the idea of buying video on iTunes. But that still leaves a lot of problems:
- Bandwidth/Bandwidth Caps. Excessive downloads get flagged by cable providers. Especially Cox where they charge me $35/mo for only 3Mbs and any time I download more than a gig then I get throttled
- Sync to iPad. I have a smart playlist of certain shows/movies that kids watch so that its not always the same episode. Thats a lot of bandwidth for just rotating in shows for travel
- Content. A lot of content just isnt available on iTunes. So not only do I save money by ripping my own blurays, I also have a better selection
- DRM. As someone who lives almost exclusively in Apples ecosystem then itunes is great. But i also just picked up a Nexus 7 and now my purchased items cant play.
Obviously its easy to give a list of reasons for "why" simplicity should extend into file storage, but I think you said it best already:
"Apple doesn't care about that scenario"
You've clearly laid out the reasons I only rarely use iTunes Store for movie purchases. (Sure I use iTunes Store for music, but that's all DRM-free now.)
Instead, if there's a movie I want to own I do the following:
I'll buy the Blu-ray or DVD on amazon, then rip the disc using HandBrake and import it to iTunes. The Disc itself serves as my backup, and the rip is accessible on my Apple TVs and idevices. No restrictions for usage.
For TV Shows, I don't usually want to own them, just watch them once through. For those (in order of best to last resort)
-Either I record it from the broadcast (OTA Antenna --> HD Homerun --> EyeTV software on mac --> export to iTunes)
-stream from netflix, Hulu, or website (Free Cable plugin on jailbroken ATV2)
-Purchase on iTunes. (I only do this for a few shows that aren't available any other way and for which I want to stay current, for example Breaking Bad. I don't have cable and that show is not up-to-date on the websites or hulu/netflix.)
