And like other recent EA releases like NFS: Shift and DA:O it's only a disc check. Link

I call bullshit.

I see no reason why you wouldn't believe them.
And honestly, this is the kind of DRM I like (although, I would like it even more if it involved Impulse or Steam so that I don't need to swap discs). Hell, it is almost the exact same DRM model that Stardock used to use (back when they used "No DRM")
Basically, you have a trivial check to appease publishers and to still ensure that DRM will be accepted. But rather than rely upon Securom or Stardock, you give the user incentive to register their key to an account (for Stardock it was patches, for Bioware it is DLC and unlockables). Bam, no resale and you discourage piracy. And people praise you for not using any "DRM". :p

Aren't all games these days set up to supply DLC in some form or another? I'm pretty sure ME2 will have some form of Day 0 DLC just like DA: O and PC ME1 but it wont be paid for DLC. Few weeks later expect the first DLC like Wardens Keep, NFS: Shift also has it's first Car pack on the way. If you believe DLC is a from of DRM or not the fact remains that you don't actually have to buy it to play and enjoy the vanilla game.

Actually, ME2 already has DLC... the blood dragon armor from DA:O CE.

Thats all great and stuff but what about those of us yet to play the first game because of the activation limits on it? I hope they plan to rerelease a diskcheck version of the first game in the future maybe with all the dlc on the disc as well.

I'm sure we will see the all encompassing edition: ME2 Ultimate Edition.
PC games need to have Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Double Packs, Deluxe, Compilations, Collections, Trilogies, Triple Packs, Specials, Action Packs, Anthologies and whatever else I missed on the list. :-)

They recently switched the info on the EA Store page for The Saboteur -- used to require authentication, just SecuROM disk check now. I can't think of any EA releases in recent memory with anything beyond that.
Yeah, that's their new method -- trying to get pirates to buy the game instead in order to get the content. I think it's more than reasonable.
As for authentication, I can confirm 100% with Dragon Age you just download, authenticate, then never need to be online again.

They've been promising to do that for a long time =). However, even with the current 5 machine limit, you can use the EA authentication tools to revoke current activations. If the game is on this list: http://activate.ea.com/deauthorize/gamesList.html you can revoke activations.

The actual limit has never really been the main issue here. It could be a 99 limit and I still would not purchase it. Its the fact its going to have to phone home to autheticate when you install. Thats all good and dandy for the forseeable future but what about 10 years time? I know EA have been around for a long time now but nothing is certain in business. When/if the authentication servers go down these games will cease to be installable.

A patch is most practical. Kinda late for GOTY edition. ;)
For 10 years from now: crack.

In ten years time if you still really think you're going to want to play ME, chances are it'll either be sold here or the dependency on authentication servers would have been removed. Chances are also good mind, that current systems (at that time) wouldn't even be able to play it anyhow.
The point is, why worry about it and let that stop you from purchasing something you'd like now? Even games without DRM right now will become uninstallable at some point in the future when hardware/OSes stop supporting it.

If they released a patch that would also be fine I could burn it to a cd along with the normal patches and put it in the mass effect dvd case. I guess the crack is kind of an option though giving them money tells them this kind of DRM is acceptable.
I personally collect games, I have a fairly extensive collection now and I have a couple old computers in storage should I ever feel like playing an old game that doesn't work on a modern system. I'm probably in a very small minority of gamers in this case but I have the capability of playing these old games as long as they install.
I don't know if ME is a game I want to play in 10 years time but if I do any they didn't bother to patch out the activation requirement and the servers are no longer running I have a disc I can do nothing with. Maybe I should just give in buy the game because I have wanted to try it sinse 2007 and just "obtain" a second copy with no activation limits burn it to a disc and store it alongside my first copy. Just incase I have that urge to play in 10 years time.

I think they've learned. And it's a great game. So I say order. Though I understand if you want to stick strictly by your principles. :)
Another option is to borrow or purchase it from a friend. I cannot condone piracy in any circumstance. :)