What do you think? Is it piracy? Is it salvation?

is there really no HINT towards why Nintendo disabled it in the first place? really odd since it should be a "system selling" feature..

glad i dont have a wii

It's basically because Nintendo would have to buy a codec for every system they sell that plays DVDs, and they just didn't want to spend the money, as far as I know.

I remember reading more then a year ago (on official nintendo site i believe?) that they planned to release a dvd channel you could download in the future for $XX that would let you play DVD's. They disabled it so the use of codecs would be purchased on a per-user basis. Maybe people hacking into the feature will prompt them to actually do this quicker?

You're correct that it's a codec licensing issue. Nintendo would have had to pay $10 per console for the codec. Considering how many consoles they've sold, to date, that's about $100MM. Once you see the BIG dollar signs it's hard to disagree with their logic on this one.

I never understood why people needed to have a DVD player in each system. Actually, I guess I understand it, but I would never need (and thus, use) the DVD player in the Wii if it came with one.
I have a DVD player for every TV in my house, I have a PS2, I have a 360 (well, those are my brothers'). No need for another one for me.

^^^ I agree with you. I just have a multi-port switch hooked up to my TV, and I can select whatever system I'm using.