Original Aspect Ratios at Streaming Sites (1 Viewer)

It seems that the studios are providing 1.78 pan and scan masters with more regularity to streaming sites like Vudu and Netflix. Vudu will let you watch the first 2 minutes for free and I've noticed there are many classic CinemaScope titles like LES GIRLS and AUNTIE MAME that start in 2.35 (or wider) scope for the credits, then blow up to 1.78 for the balance of the movie. It's this way for either rental or purchase at Vudu. What's up with that?
This has infuriated me with premium movie networks like HBO, which will pan and scan new movies, not just old ones. I know they're trying to appeal to the average viewer who might not understand the letterbox bars and want their new HD sets filled corner to corner, but since these same people have watched DVD's the past decade or so (and those are all original aspect ratio for the most part) why is pan and scan still an issue?
Finally some classic titles are available in HD 1080p, but then the studios ruin them by cropping the image. This has got to stop, particularly on pay per view streaming sites like Vudu. Netflix too.

And yet another reason why physical media rules.

The average viewer has had about a quarter of a century to become familiar with, and understand, letterbox bars.

Mark-P said:

And yet another reason why physical media rules.

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Believe me Mark, that's why I have over 5000 discs. But there are a lot of titles that aren't available in Blu-ray and that's why I'm nervous that if the format ever does go away then all we'll have is cropped 1.78 presentations at streaming and downloading sites.

Vudu has RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY, one of the great widescreen westerns of all time, available in 1080p. Unfortunately after the opening credits the film switches to 1.78 pan&scan.
Who the hell is going to buy that for $20? And with no Blu-ray available, this is the only way to own the film in HD.
Gee, thanks WB and Vudu! Another classic ruined.

Disgusting.

Getting quite pissed about this too!! On Nflix, I just watched Thor, new to streaming. Wasn't in the orig AR. Quite annoying! What the hell's the deal? Must be that Nflix is caving to pressure from ignoramuses who insist that the image fill the screen! I think I might just go back to a disc delivery plan - there was something MUCH more satisfying about it!

The ignoramuses who insist that the image fill the 16x9 screen are most likely many of the same ignoramuses who used to insist that the image fill the 4x3 screen. Except I suspect that this generation of ignorami feel even more empowered. After all, "widescreen TV" is here! The battle is won. The differences between one widescreen aspect ratio and another are probably something they aren't even aware of -- in any case, it would amount to the most supreme nitpicking in their eyes. Regardless, they have paid for the "privilege" of "never again" having black bars, and they will not hear any argument to the contrary.

Okay, end of rant.

Those streaming sites just are provided TV masters which are reframed because that is the norm. Streaming is viewed by the industry like TV.
Streaming or download do not have developed their unique specs yet. If people complain and don't download reframed films, then they will follow suit and provide original format films. I doubt it thought, it's just another alternate venue to TV, not DVD / Blu-ray.