[komitsuki]

Japan is huge on renting manga or, in some cases, anime DVDs.

The problem with countries outside of Japan (particulary Canada, USA) is that when they localize the anime, a lot of scenes are deleted or changed or terribly translated to fit, just before the DVDs are released. Yes, big edits. Consider that this is still a huge practice, a lot of people don't like to see this and rather go for the private downloads instead.

People will buy DVDs outside of Japan when:

1. there is a simultanious release of episodes on TV or DVD releases around the world.
2. there is absolutely no editing of scenes.
3. there is no dubbing to keep the cost down.
4. rentals are more common.

I like the idea of buying DVDs but the business model outside of Japan (specifically Canada and USA) is really FUBAR.

By the way, anime licensing to a TV station brings hefty capital to the anime studios. This is very common in Asia.