Personally, I would rank convenience in this descending order: 720p Netflix on Chrome (my browser of choice); 1080p Netflix on a supported browser; piracy.
Maybe for the HN power user demographic the current DRM methodology is pushing users away, but for average joe (many of whom don't even know this is a thing) will happily plug along using Netflix.
That's a sensible goal. But Netflix is more convenient and has DRM.
They aren't mutually exclusive. They probably are for purchases of media (in fact... I'd say certainly are) but for streaming it's not.
The big thing with streaming is speed of access to the content and Netflix/et al are much better than piracy at that (it's instant vs waiting, even a short while, for a BT download... once you find it).
Streaming services main downside vs piracy is the catalog - piracy wins there, but by less in practical terms than you might expect.
... are you from some kind of parallel universe? They're incredibly successful from an awards and audience perspective.
House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black, as you mentioned but I'm not sure how you've missed their others like...
A Series of Unfortunate Events, Narcos, The Crown, Stranger Things, The OA, Sense8, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Grace and Frankie, Santa Clarita Diet, BoJack Horseman...
.. and that's without mentioning their extremely successful original kids programming or co-productions (like Lillyhammer, or the new Degrassi, or Dirk Gently) and of course their continuations (Fuller House, Arrested Development, Trailer Park Boys, Black Mirror.. etc).
I mean.. just look at that line up.
That's a solid response.
DRM, ironically, promotes piracy.