On Netflix just give me a directory and make it easy for me to browse
If they did that, you'd see just how small their catalog really is. For Netflix, the recommendation engine is vital camouflage for the fact that they just don't have very much content. Netflix have about 4,000 movies in their catalog, of which a substantial proportion are low-budget filler. Once you remove the obvious junk, you're left with a selection of movies that's no better than a Blockbuster store circa 2005.
Fundamentally, you don't get Netflix for movies. Maybe that's why you sign up originally but if you don't watch any TV shows, Netflix is probably not worth it for you. One of their senior people told me a few years ago that "People come for movies and they stay for TV." And that's probably still the case. I doubt its catalog is anywhere near the quality of a 2005 Blockbuster for films. Unfortunately, their DVD back catalog is also rotting away to the point where I'll probably end up dropping that subscription at some point.
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If they did that, you'd see just how small their catalog really is. For Netflix, the recommendation engine is vital camouflage for the fact that they just don't have very much content. Netflix have about 4,000 movies in their catalog, of which a substantial proportion are low-budget filler. Once you remove the obvious junk, you're left with a selection of movies that's no better than a Blockbuster store circa 2005.
Fundamentally, you don't get Netflix for movies. Maybe that's why you sign up originally but if you don't watch any TV shows, Netflix is probably not worth it for you. One of their senior people told me a few years ago that "People come for movies and they stay for TV." And that's probably still the case. I doubt its catalog is anywhere near the quality of a 2005 Blockbuster for films. Unfortunately, their DVD back catalog is also rotting away to the point where I'll probably end up dropping that subscription at some point.
Agreed w/the rest of your comment but "[...] they stay for TV?" I take it they and/or you meant "series".