OmegaX: Ok, point taken but your alternative still has DRM in form of a SecuROM disc check. Whether the OP considers it permissive enough is up to him.
I don't have experience with the retail version but assuming that the patches for retail and digital are the same then after he runs the patch it'll automatically execute the launcher which is protected and it'll install SecuROM regardless. He can then uninstall SecuROM and forget about the launcher because the game executable is DRM-free.
every game has the disc check. FO3, Oblivion, Max Payne... been like that since the first cd game.
if he has problem with that he shouldn't play games then :)
and isn't launcher required to run mods?