EverNightX: You are the one proposing the unlikely scenario of Steam disappearing and the game library being unplayable. I'm simply pointing out in such an unlikely event the means of dealing with it are already available. I don't actually think it would happen in the 1st place.
Actually, if you are serious about keeping your games, you want to proactively try it out. You don't want to wait until you have to resort to it to find out it doesn't work for a lot of your games.
EverNightX: And no, I'm not suggesting pirating anything. I'm saying the same techniques to remove the DRM can be used were Valve to dissolve. I'm also saying that emulation can cover any loss of console hardware.
I've had issues with emulated games when I tried it over 2 decades ago. They are unofficially maintained and your mileage may vary.
EverNightX: Your solution apparently is simply to have large numbers of games be completely off limits to you. Seems extreme to me.
In my opinion, it is the gaming industry that is extreme for wanting to charge me the high cost of ownership (as opposed to rental), but not confer to me the benefits that are expected with it.
Its a sensible position that most people who haven't drunk the cool-aid already would adopt, but unlike a lot of people, I'm just stubborn enough to stick to my guns about it.
Otherwise, note that I don't have a problem per say with rental, when it is honest about what it is. I enjoy my Netflix subscription. Its a very affordable way to watch a lot of movies and tv shows. Similarly, when I was much younger, I'd play a different game every weekend that I'd rent at my local video store for an extremely affordable cost.
I don't have a problem with neither of those things.
Really, its the way the gaming industry retailers go about it when they are selling games that I take exception to. If you sell it to me, its mine. You no longer get a say as to whether I get to play the game I purchased or not.