minidisk: hard to believe

I can't believe I'm reading this on:

http://www.minidisc.org/very_faq.html#_q87

As for direct transfers from Minidisc to PC, such a capability would
be great! (And a petition was sent to Sony asking them to add it.)
Unfortunately Minidisc was designed with a so-called "audio/data
firewall" that prevents the ATRAC audio data on MDs from being
accessed directly by computer. This was done to comply with Recording
Industry concerns over music piracy.

***I can't believe this. I guess this is what Carl was talking about
all along...

In other words, the technology clearly *exists* but it's been
STONEWALLED, or firewalled, whatever... amazing...

J. Pehrson