I notice there's a pretty big hate for Steam on GOG, are there any other recommended outlets for newer games?
Of course, I prefer to buy from GOG if at all possible, but some games just aren't old yet.

Gamersgate, Impulse, and Play Greenhouse for the indie fan are nice places to go.

I've been looking at gamersgate for a while but I'm not sure of their DRM stance, they mention that some titles have it but do they say on the actual game page if it has drm or do you have to take your chances?

Care to share the connectionless install trick? I'd dearly love to back up the Anno games and SotS to DVD. GamersGate's downloader is slowish, as you say.

I was reading the other day that gamersgate no longer HAVE a downloader

When you download the game, there's a file called launch.dat that the downloader changes to setup.exe (or something similar) when the download is complete. It then runs setup.exe, which takes you to the main install program. Just copy the downloaded files while the main installer is still running, so that you get setup.exe instead of launch.dat. Then you can install the game like any other (I think autoplay even works).
I don't know if that works for all games, but SotS, Mass Effect and KB all behaved the same way.
You -can- back up the downloaded files along with the download initializer and run it that way, but it's annoying because the downloader requires write permission to edit launch.dat, so you can't run it straight from the DVD like that - you'd have to copy it to your hard drive first (and of course it means you need to be connected).
I got this from support when I wrote to them complaining about the Mass Effect downloader not keeping my install files properly. I think I am going to email them and ask directly if this goes against their policies, though. Since the connectionless installer is the main reason I have preferred Gamersgate over Direct2Drive so far, I'd rather be above-board and not have to wonder if it's just a loophole that they intend to fix.

DRM is honestly my biggest concern.
I want to be able to play my games down the road if I choose to install them. Not have to worry about getting a solution to some obscure DRM-related issue from a company that may no longer exist.
Seems like they all require online activation though...

I hear you there. If you're worried about that, stay away from Impulse; much like Steam, it uses a proprietary black-box installer for digitally purchased games (which can be backed up on a per-game basis as a monolithic .impulse file). Unlike Steam, though, you don't have to launch Impulse to play your games once they're installed.
I only buy from Impulse when it's something dirt-cheap (like the $3.99 sales they have every so often, but they've backed off of those lately).
Impulse honestly doesn't have much of a selection anyway.
On Direct2Drive, you generally have to connect at install time and put in the serial key, but they sell some titles without DRM. It's not always clear what's what, though. Splinter Cell for example is not marked as DRM-free, but it has no serial key, you just install it and play it - but I'm not sure if it still connects seamlessly to d2d in the background at install time. I should try installing it with no internet connection to see if it works.
Gamersgate I've covered - you can easily rig their games to be DRM-free, but I'm not sure if it's intended to work that way or not.

I used to like STEAM. But I soon realised that they didn't give a damn about quality or customer service. Let's not confuse that with Valve quality though. It's just Steam that hacks me off (though I do tend to pick up some of their weekend deals).
I suffered the Earth 2160 fiasco :(

As a non-US based entity, here's my take on them:
GOG, naturally is darn good for old games the main points being the pricing, lack of regional restrictions and the extras they try to arrange for most games -- often making purchasing those games here better than on other places where they may actually be cheaper. Support for me so far, has been top notch.
Gamersgate is fairly good unless you're in Europe (where the pricing seems to be fairly unfair), there are few regional restrictions, the support is great and even if there are DRM activation limits, you can ignore them as support will always help you to reset them when you need to (usually by giving you a new serial key). Downsides are them running out of keys during sales and not informing people until after their purchase -- expect that to happen this weekend too when Men of War goes back on sale.
Impulse was looking fairly promising, the client is nice to use and doesn't need to be running when you play your games. The display of pricing in a local currency is nice, even if they charge in US dollars (which I prefer anyhow). But they are fast becoming another D2D with a recent increase in the number of NA only products. Support is fairly helpful and fast though.
D2D, I rarely use. It's just too anoying to sift through all the NA only games which make up the majority of their lineup. They say they want to loosen up the restrictions, but I've not seen any sign that they have even attempted to do that in the few years I've been looking at them on and off. Support apparently, is not very good although I've never had need to contact them. If you run out of activations on DRM products, I have the feeling they will do little to help.
Steam basically, used to be the only place I used. But within the last year or so the quality of their service has taken a huge nose dive. Support is ultimately useless, regional restrictions and pricing annoying. They rarely bother to speak to their customers and prefer to do things without notice or reason. They're good for weekend sales but right now, that's about it. I go far more in-depth on Steam over here: http://bansama.com/b/digital-distribution/the-digital-distribution-dilemma-%e2%80%93-a-review-of-steam/
Greenhouse, I've never tried. I'm tempted but I don't really like the pricing when most of the games they offer wind up selling elsewhere for cheaper.
Bigfishgames is pretty much where I go to for the causal game's I like (match 3 and all that). They're cheap and they're good. Support is some of the best I've seen. They pretty much strive to keep their customers happy -- the last time I contacted them, it was to ask about a game that was removed before I got to try the demo of it. They not only apologised, but gave me a free game too. It's also nice that CEO of the company regularly hangs out on the forums.
I was reading the other day that gamersgate no longer HAVE a downloader
They no longer have their client, which was a bit like Impulses one but was never finished. They dumped it and now use a basic downloader -- which can be paused but, word of warning, never stop your download as it deletes anything it already downloaded. If you then keep that downloader file and the temporary files you can use that to restore backups without the need to redownload.
I've been looking at gamersgate for a while but I'm not sure of their DRM stance, they mention that some titles have it but do they say on the actual game page if it has drm or do you have to take your chances?
They mention it on some products but not all. However, if you email support and ask, they will tell you exactly what's used. For example, when they first released Dawn of Discovery they didn't have the DRM listed. They do now though (they don't list activation limits as they themselves ignore them).

So, it's kinda looking like GamersGate is the most lenient / up-front about DRM. I'm going to have a dig around their site now...

Most lenient? Probably.
Most up-front? I'd actually say Steam and Impulse. They list any DRM included on the game description.
*edit* Bansama, I just read your article. Very well done. I stand corrected on Steam being up front about the DRM on games. As to your article, do you have any objections to linking to it or quoting it (with either a link to the article or appropriate credit to you as the author)?

If you want to quote it, go ahead. A link would also be nice if it's not too much to ask for =) I'll be writing the next part soon too, perhaps this week or next.
Oh, and if you do use it in any form, I'd like a link to where you used it (just so I can read whatever you write too =))

Cool, I'll try to remember to toss you a link if I use it.