If I use a public WLAN, a VPN like Mullvad is going to gain me privacy and security. Furthermore, I would get (for good or bad) "mixed" with the rest of the users (although in my case this does not apply as I use WireGuard to my home connection). If I use mobile, a VPN makes MITM more difficult.

If I pirate using a VPN in a country hostile to mine, the local RIAA/MPAA can't do anything. They probably already can't when VPN is in same country. A VPN doesn't stop a determined adversary, but if you worry about these you should probably use Tor or something like that, possibly without going back to clearnet.

While your stance is a good wake-up call, and perhaps a decent rule of thumb the above are reasonable exempts.