It looks unprofessional to developers who might want a space to discuss their games, it looks unprofessional to the users who want to introduce others to the forum, and it looks unprofessional to anyone who might be hired on who has to deal with the mess.

In short, it's all around demoralizing. Especially when it's so simple that even a programming language forum can make small modules to shoo it away. In under 200 lines of code, no less.

If GOG wanted to make the forums a central communication hub, they'd have to go to quite some lengths to restructure, though really an NNTP client and web interface is all you need.

Plus I take issue with the premise that "(most gOg users, i.e customers, never go to the forums)"

I would bet money that most gog users visit the forums at some point. Maybe a majority of those gog users with a very small library of specific games unavailable anywhere else don't bother, but I'd bet money that most users who have multiple games over a period of time visit the forums at some point. Maybe not often, but at some point they'll want to look in game specific forums if they're having issues or something like that. Perhaps it's true that a majority of gog users never go to the forums, but I'd have to see data specific to gog to believe it. I believe a majority of gog users do visit the forums at some point in their relationship with gog.

I do believe though, that most gog users don't POST in the forums. In fact, the percentage of gog users that post in the forums is probably quite small. But as far as going to the forums, browsing and reading... it may be true but I'd have to see some sort of data for me to believe it.

If I understand correctly, it's about minimizing your game collection/"account collection" yeah?

Well I get being displeased with how many launchers and accounts games on PC seem to require these days, even console games frequently seem to ask players to sign up for some extra 3rd party service now! It all seems like a lot to me, and I have for a while now attempted to be more selective in the games I buy and play, for a good many reasons. I thought that a benefit of having a few, larger services like Steam w/ steamworks available would allow players to no longer need to create a new account for every new multiplayer game they play, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Seeing even some singleplayer modes in games requiring an additional account and/or internet connection is a bit too far for me.

If you believe that it would be best for you to delete your account because you don't intend to ever use it again, then by all means go ahead. Thankfully there are some different options for quality storefronts and launchers out there, though I personally find Steam to be a nice platform that I still enjoy using. But, if to you it just seems like an unnecessary burden to carry your account with you, then feel free to get rid of it! Just make sure that you know what you're doing before you make a decision, but there is of course always the option to make a new account if you ever want to return to the platform. In addition - in the case of Steam - I know they in the past have given folks a grace period of about 30 days should they decide to change their mind after initiating the process of account deletion.

As for "quitting Steam," I'd love to... but GOG's catalogue and forum engagement aren't strong enough to get me to close my Steam account.

As for "tossing" your Steam games, I wouldn't do that if I were you. There are potentially ways to get functionality outside of logging in. I'd look into those potentialities.

No, but I quit GOG. Their pricing is insanely high to steam or any other store - in my country anyways lol

I could also be a feedback loop. Most GOG users dont go or post in the forums because they suck. Each individual game community is pretty much dead with topics focused on trouble-shooting and getting the game to work as opposed to actually discussing the game. The only activity is really on the general forums.

Looking old, spam, and low activity with not much content (compared to steam or even gamefaqs) makes GOG look unappealing. Maybe if the forums were better, more users would engage with the community and attract others.

Yeah, I quit Steam a few months ago when they announced that Win7 users would no longer be able to use Steam at the end of the year. To be honest, other than a few games that are Steam-exclusive, the majority of games I had on Steam I also have on GOG. I used to use GOG as a backup for Steam, but now I just buy from here. I pretty much play single-player games only, so I don't really miss the social part.

This.

My worst example was Max Payne 3.
I hadn't played it in ages and in the meantime i changed my email. Not knowing my password from my old email (the email was actually deleted), i had no way to recover my Rockstar account.
I went back and forth with Rockstar but they never really were able or willing to reinstate my account.
So permanently returned/deleted all Rockstar games i had.
I would never buy a game from them again.
This was through Steam but when you are forced to go through a 3th party, you are alone.

Over the years i got really fed up with all this gimmick.
Now i understand that companies want to protect their games but at what cost?

I think i bought not even so many games like some people really have but i have some games i wonder why i actually bought them.
Its games you liked when you were young but now i don't play them. I just have them.

I do prefer GoG over Steam for being DRM free. At least i hope.

Today i use Bitwarden for my emails so i don't lose them anymore. Years back i wrote my passwords on paper.

Steam is of course a good platform. The UI works (mostly) and they have their own good games though to my taste they went full commercial.
I don't like playing online anymore. I rather enjoy a game alone.

Its complicated to quit. One one hand sure that maybe easy but then some games i do actually like. It's not what i spend over the years but if it has any value to me.
And they give sometimes games for free like GoG does. So you accumulate games even not spending anything.

At one point i thought i should rebuy games on GoG but i stopped that as it seems irrational.
I think what i don't like about Steam is the use of heavy DRM on some games.

I have never used Steam until Elden Ring. Since then, I have bought games on sale over there but most of my games are here. I'll only buy on Steam if a game is too good to pass on and is not available here.