Personally, I don’t like the argument “they weren’t going to buy it anyways.” So you get to enjoy the software or movie, and it’s no harm done because you weren’t going to buy it anyways? I think a lot of times this is a cop out excuse. In my mind, and just as your graphics example points out somebody somewhere lost an opportunity or a sale. Not saying there aren’t cases where pirating is justified, but I often get the feeling a lot of people are holding on to excuses that don’t apply specifically to justify their 6 TB Plex library.
Anecdotally though, I think over the long term piracy can be balanced out. I pirated a load of games and software when I was younger with no disposable income which I have now purchased - I could argue the point I'd never have gotten into some hobbies if I hadn't had the piracy option, and they never would have got the purchase later down the line.
Totally get where you're coming from though, I don't think it's as black and white as maybe I had previously thought.
What about other items?
E.g., someone who pirates a graphics editing program that costs several hundred dollars indeed might not have purchased it if piracy had not been available, so arguably that piracy did not cost that software maker a sale.
But if piracy had not been an option, would they have just given up on doing their graphics editing? Or would they have looked around for something else instead? Maybe they would have bought Pixelmator Pro, for example, which is under $30, and can do a lot of things that people pirate the more expensive programs for.