Since GOG didn't provide a us a DRM-Free game and we have to manipulate our O/S so that game won't contact the dead Ubisoft server, so is there anything we can do about this? I really would want to get a refund or a another game.

I have been unable to get my copy to start in order to verify this (probably need to downgrade the drivers again), but if this really is happening for everyone, then I am disappointed.

Luckily, I had no crashes because of this. Being disconnected from internet or ignoring the connection by firewall works for me. It is a sloppy job thou, leaving some DRM remnant in the game. I suppose you can't expect more for this price. I wouldn't be surprised if most of the games here were just cracked versions with blessing of the publisher. Does GOG even get( or has access to) source codes for the games it sells, I wonder?

AFAIK this game had no other DRM but disc check at retail.
Perhaps Ubisoft took digital Steam/uPlay release as a base and failed to remove DRM completely?