nightcraw1er.488: Exactly this, you don't anything on steam, you rent it, as you find with the keys expiring, they have total control over you.
Last time I checked, GOG also has expiring keys.
And Gifts do not expire. Keys also do not expire, unless Developers say so.
Fairfox: Does anybody know if there's a way to check if a Steam code is used or not? I have a few codes from Bundles that are a year+ old. I tried to trade using one and it was already used, which was obviously super-awkward; I suppose sometimes people 'steal' codes over time by guessing them, I don't know.
But yes, if I don't own a game on Steam I don't want to 'test' the code, because it'll add it to my account (!), and if I already have it on my account the message that I own the game supersedes anything about whether it's been used.
Note: Anybody jokingly asking for codes to 'test' will receive a virtual slap with a virtual ostrich feather. Virtual reality is the future, 90s style.
I have over 500 Steam keys traded over the years and NOT a single key has been used.
Your keeping of the key sucked, perhaps? Or the source was untrusted.