temps: If people weren't required to use Epic Games Launcher in order to play games (whether they are free games or whether they are Epic exclusive games), nobody would use it. That tells you it's crap right away.
I'm not getting your point, especially as you seem to be saying two contradictory things.
There is also the fact you can use Legendary for many of the Epic games, thus no requirement for the Epic Launcher.
I've been getting free games from Epic since 2018, and aside from a few I momentarily tested for DRM-Free Lite status, I've not played any, and using the Epic Launcher wasn't required.
It might seem strange to get games and not play them, but for me it is about choice and the unknown future. Aside from a dozen or so games I have gotten from Epic, some with DRM, I will possibly never play the rest, because I have a huge number of games from GOG, and an awful lot from Itch.io and some from ZOOM Platform, that will take preference, then a dozen or so from Steam, plus many free games there too, and then oodles of DRM-Free games from other stores like IndieGala and Big Fish etc. I will never go wanting for a game to entertain myself and family. In fact I don't really need to acquire or buy any more games, but I still will now and then, though I can be quite selective about that. It's a great place to be in, having all that variety and choice.