I originally downloaded the Skyrim free High Resolution Texture Pack DLC via Steam. I deleted the DLC content from the data folder as it was 3gb and too large for my drive at the time. Since the files were hard deleted Steam assumed the DLC was still there, but it was not. I went to download the DLC again after freeing up disk space, but there is no way to re-download removed DLC content once hard deleted. The only method is to uninstall Skyrim completely, which causes Steam to recognize that the DLC along with Skyrim are no longer installed.

Any word on when this will be addressed?

What I find ridiculous is your ISP snooping you.

What I find ridiculous is copyright violation on something that's free.

To be sure, Steam is a ridiculous imposition and a considerable nuisance, but do two wrongs make a right?

Surely it's in all our interests to do whatever we can to resist pirates, hackers and spammers? Using black market services encourages criminals, in my humble opinion.

I can understand your frustration, but in your position I would lobby Bethesda for a solution in this forum, which I'm pleased to see you've now done.