I think Steam can be pretty decent, but forcing you to use it on things that just don't need it (such as Fear 2) is just silly and only going to cause resentment.
But not as much resentment as the stupid letterboxing :).

Indeed, forcing Steam onto retail games is intrusive - but I still say it's better than the alternative forms of DRM.

Really? That's very disappointing. I was already irked by the Special Forces edition, but Steam is a complete deal-breaker.

True... at least I can use it on multiple computers. I move computers a lot, and it's worked out well.

A slap in the face is better than a kick in the balls. I'd still take neither given the choice :).
Yeah same, Steam does a reasonable job but I'd definitely prefer not to be forced to use something when there's really no need.

But if you change countries, you have to rebuy ALL of your Steam activated games all over again as they like to deactivate games when they get used in a different country...

Couldn't you just keep the same address? If so, I'd just give Steam a PO Box and tell them to suck it.

Wow, didn't know about that. That's pretty fantastically shit.

I'm sure once you start your game from a radically different IP address, it's instant deactivation time.

That's why I like my boxed non-Steam games. Discs don't care where they are read as long as they can be read.

not for me they haven't.
I can (if i try really really really hard) see why people might not be keen on steam.
However I can't for the life of me see why it would be a deal breaker for anyone. Not if they want to play Total War or FEAR2.
If they were in two minds about a title then it might make the difference, but if its a game they want then steam can be (at the worst) totally ignored.
Ooohh no. I have to start another app at the same time i start my game. OMG its the end of the world!
If you don't like any of the extra features steam adds then ignore it... its like saying you won't buy that Ferrari because you don't like the interior color of the trunk.
*so so so confused*
NB//
- FIle -> Go Offline.
- Right click game, choose properties. Updates tab. Select no updates.

I see you have not tried Impulse yet. ;) as its 100 times better than steam, and it will crush steam to dust when it gets the next phase, (it will launch just before the game Demigod.

I don't believe that is necessarily true, I do know that if you went on a trip and bought X game from Japan, brought it back and tried to activate it on steam it'd be like "lol no." but I don't believe if you had played significantly a number of games at your home then you actually moved to a different country that they'd invalidate all your games. Also, I believe you could probably contact them and say "hey, I'm moving to another country,"

I like Steam for a couple of reasons:
-They encourage mods, thus they gave birth to Garry's Mod, which is probably one of the best mods I have ever played
-Even though the DLing takes a long time, it comes from THEIR servers and across the net to YOUR computer, but on the bright side it keeps my CD case clean and free of unnecessary discs.
And guys, it could be worse... IT COULD BE THE EA DOWNLOAD MANAGER *shivers*

Thing is, Steam fans are always going on about how great and how much value the added features of Steam are. But if you have no use for those features, what use is Steam? It's just another app and DRM scheme. Sure, you can ignore those features, but why would you want to have to load another app on your system when you don't NEED or WANT anything it offers?
As I said, if people like Steam, that's great. More power to them. But I don't like it, and I'm not speaking out of my ass on it, since I have it and have used it for Mass Effect. I don't like it.
And as for just buying a game you want and ignoring the fact that you need Steam, I won't do that either. I won't support that kind of tactic, the same as I won't buy a game I really want if it has the on-line activation and limited activation DRM model (such as Mass Effect, Spore, and a host of others have). I will not show monetary support for that kind of thing. Does that mean I'll miss out on some great games and not be able to play games I really want to play? You bet. But life goes on. It's not going to affect me all that much if I miss them. There are plenty of other games out there.