Options->Concurrent Connections. Each one is basically a downloading thread, which should be grabbing a different part of the installer. If the CDN can give you ~2MB/s per thread, and your connection is capable of 10MB/s, 1 concurrent connection will give you 2MB/s, 2 concurrent connections 4MB/s, while 5 or more will use all 10MB/s of your connection.
Unfortunately, multiple concurrent connections may result in a few errors (download not finishing being the most common one), and not sure if the extras support them.

"crappy DRM": The Downloader isn't DRM. All of the games run fine without it. In fact your games coudln't care less if it's even installed.

"forced online authentication": You don't have to log in online when you're finished downloading your games. Just to fire up the downloader. By the way: you also have to log in to your gog account, when downloading via http. Just saying.

"constant internet connection": While you have to have this when downloading via http (at least I get problems resuming my downloads otherwise), you don't have to do this when using the gog downloader. Just keep on downloading your incomplete files whenever you feel like.

After that you can delete the downloader, save your games on a dvd, cd, stick, other hd or wahtever. You won't have to use the downloader for playing your games. That's why - unlike steam - the downloader isn't a client.

"I might as well be pirating the games off bittorrent in the first place.": Naaaahhh... just don't.

Thanks, I knew about that and suspected that's what he meant, just wanted to be 100% sure.

Hey I might be screwed up but I'm a loyal customer.
and just FYI, please don't change anything about the downloader.

NO WAY!
Say anything you want however you want with no worries. I am Teflon.

Far out, a thread derail that isn't my fault.