Really now, are you so bothered by the comparison of some DD sites to rentals that you're ready to be completely disingenuous about the whole matter? You know quite well the differences between the various options in buying games with regards to how it can impact a buyer's access to games as time goes on. You're also quite aware of why some folks draw the comparison of certain DD services to rentals. If you have an issue with some aspect of that comparison then address it, but drop the vague FUD already. Or perhaps you're just gearing up for another "you're not actually buying anything" spiel, in which case we can certainly dance that dance again, although if memory serves last time you simply stated that you "couldn't be arsed" to actually defend or explain your position on that matter.

Really, if you're going to keep claiming this then please back it up. Bobbs-Merrill Co. v. Straus put the kibosh on the attempt to lock down copyrighted works in this way back in 1908 (at least for those of us in the US). If a specific law has been passed since then that explicitly goes against this ruling, or if there's been a more recent ruling overriding this precedent then please enlighten us, otherwise simply your word that copyrighted works aren't actually sold really doesn't count for much.

your pedantry is silly.
having control over your games is what this is about.

And you *have* control over your games regardless of where they are bought. You may temporarily* lose access to a game, but that can happen regardless of how you purchase your game. I'm sure we don't need to run through all the examples right now...
* Even in your case, your account was temporarily disabled, right? Meaning you can actually play your games now. There are only specific circumstances for losing access permanently, most involve breaking agreements/the law or financial problems.
Seriously, if all this is such a huge issue, then go find a new past time already.

You should clarify that you are speaking only of Japan's Copyright Act. I do own my purchased software. I am even afforded limited rights to copy and modify that software. Resale is permitted as well (so long as any additional copies are destroyed when I cease to be the owner.) It is not a matter of enforcement because those rights cannot be revoked by a copyright holder.

You're speaking from a country which is generally the exception and not the rule. A country which is now ranked along with the likes of China and Russia in terms of being a hot spot for piracy. The very sort of country that causes such DRM methods to be employed in the first place, according to the publishers -- ie, you're in a country which gives them an excuse to lie to people by not admiting that they wish to curb second hand sales.

Summary:
D2D, Impulse, Gamer's Gate, playgreenhouse. I'd stay away from Steam since it seems you won't be able to connect to the internet at all times and offline mode still is rather patchy.
blahblahrantrantwahwahwahNO ONE CARES
Seriously guys, you're all mighty fine fellows, but do you really have to bring up and repeat the same discussion all the time? Just exchange email/IM and shout at eachother over there, okay?

Weirdly offline mode seems to be OK for me. If you're offline and you start up Steam, it'll let you go offline anyway. You don't need to plan for it.

With Steam it also helps to have automatic updates set to off if you want to play offline.

I am in one of those 50 countries, yes. You may be interested to know that China is not in the bad books anymore. You can read the latest IIPA reports here. Suggesting that Canada's relatively civilized copyright laws are the reason for DRM is absurd. The IIPA would fill their list with 50 countries regardless. They need enemies to justify those measures.
EDIT: Scratch that - China is on the list.

Exactly, thats why its not the reason, its the EXCUSE. They're Osama to the invasion of Iraq

We are all so smart - like brains in jars. :D

That was kinda my point.

From what Ive read Impulse is what steam should have been. No need to be online to play single player games. keep them forever, and basically a hassle free experience. or am i wrong in that?
Ive bought a few games on steam... and Ive had issues getting the offline mode to work. EG when my internet was down for a month during a move. and the greenhouse place sounds pretty nice to, a better way to get inde games besides steam or PSX/xboxlive

i'm an air traffic controller, not infantry or anything, so when i'm deployed i work shifts in a radar facility at a fixed base. when i'm not on shift i'm pretty much free to do whatever i want on the base, as long as its not criminal ofcourse, and when you're in the middle of the desert with nothing to do you gotta keep yourself from going insane somehow.