New
#21
You can download Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 ISO's freely here, http://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/home You still need a valid product code to activate, so how is that promoting piracy? One of the biggest complaints in the past was easy access to install media. They fixed that quit nicely.
The original insider builds were free to try. Once the official consumer release went out they changed it. If they hadn't, people would just download the insider builds for a free ride. In the past, preview builds (AKA Beta) would have a time bomb and expire after a certain date. Insider builds don't do that. If you upgrade to the next build the expiry date gets extended. You can activate Insider builds on a new PC if you enter a valid product code. Retail codes will work, as far as I know. Insider builds accept the same keys the Retail builds do. You can switch the consumer release to Insider too in settings.
The bottom line is, the Insider builds are no longer free.