HypersomniacLive: We were told that downloading standalone installers wouldn't initially be possible with the Galaxy client, but Destro's posts make it sound as if it already is. From your experience, is it?
As far as monitoring the Galaxy client during download and installation, there were no traditional installers downloaded. Instead, it seems that the raw game files are being downloaded.
My two main gripe with the Galaxy client are that you are locked into the interface language (and currency) which it is geolocating with no choice to select the language you want and that the whole UI is a messy, glorified web page in an window.
Regarding Act of War, I think GOG uses the Gold Edition boxset which consist of two DVD discs, the main game and its expansion. As I do not own the GOG version, the split is probably done without much unnecessary duplication.
Though, I still hate the erratic decisions here (and absolutely NO feedback here).
Perhaps I really should stop buying any more games from here. The main reason for me was having proper DRMfree, legal copies of my copy-protected games. Due to the fact they often use compilation CDs for their games and now chopping them up in some really strange ways .... it just gets disgusting.