I quite agree with you, "ownership" and "access" are two very different concepts. With Steam you are only able to access your games through a third party client (or via the steam tools which JMich pointed out to me). That is one restriction that GOG doesn't have, it is still optional to use the client. In a large amount of cases, but not exclusively, the games played via Steam use Steam's DRM, or third party DRM (for example Origin). This is also different from GOG who (ideally anyways :o) provide installers without any requirements, either account based, or software/hardware based.
Personally, the second is the biggest thing for me. I wish to be able to have a file, which installs and runs without need for internet, or additional software running, this is the bit that makes GOG shine for me, I download my files and away I go, no further commitment.

The first part, the access, indeed if you do not download and backup your installers offline then indeed from an access point of view there is no difference between the companies. I really cant understand the mentality myself, the reliance on other companies to keep servers running for you, its just bone idle. Get a HDD, they are dirt cheap, download the files via web browser download. Store the files on your new HDD. Jobs a gooden. Unless GOG literally come round to your house and take that HDD it is yours, forever. This is the big benefit of shopping here, your consumer right of ownership.

Me, I download everything immediately, store on local HDD. Then each three month window I copy out to backup HDD's which are stored on and offsite. I keep spreadsheets with all my various systems/consoles, what I own, where brought from etc. Once you put the effort in up front it is simple to keep it going.

The emphasis is simple, if your too lazy to do things yourself, your at the mercy of companies and no DRM free or any other bandwagon is going to protect you from yourself.

TL;DR: Browser download, backup on separate HDD, winner!

Yeah I've "sold my soul" for the Steam exclusive racing sims but I'm fine with it. Racing games are what got me into gaming in the first place, so I rarely think twice about buying them on Steam if not available elsewhere.

In addition these kind of games have such a small market that I would rather support them through Steam than not support them at all. The most important thing for me is that these games are actually being made. So if I have to swallow my pride then that's exactly what I'll do, as long they keep making them. To each his own, of-course.

I can however suggest the game Stock Car 2013 developed by Brazilian developer Reiza Studios, you don't need Steam to play it and they have a demo available: http://game-stockcar.com.br/?lang=en#info
Its a nice game that reminds me of the classic Simbin games, like Race 07.
Inside Sim Racing did a lengthy test of the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2olxBCWGFp4
Here's their review of it: http://www.isrtv.com/reviews/game-stockcar-2013-gsc-2013-full-review/

I notice above some people have said "you don't own your games" and for most games that is technically true if you read the end user license agreement terms and conditions when considering the concept of ownership in the most strictest of court room interpretations.

But when the average gamer outside of a courtroom says "I own this game" they do not of course say that in strict legal terms. What they very clearly mean is "This game is physically in my possession and in my own hands. I can and will play it whenever I want as long as I want and you have no control over that, and I will gladly point a real gun at your face as you even think of trying to take it from my cold dead hands." - essentially.

So for example "I buy games on GOG.com because then I own them", and even GOG has phrased it similar to this in the past during presentations etc. does not refer to a courtroom legal judgment about the concept of ownership, but to the laymans "try and take it from me, I dare you just try to stop me from playing this game I bought" view, where the gamer permanently has possession of the game and can do whatever they want with it regardless of any legal mumbo jumbo. Nobody from any game company is going to show up at some random gamer's house for any reason and delete their GOG games from their hard drive by legal decree.

So people can argue about what it all means, but it is just pedantically mincing words in the end. I leave you with the image of that 1970s battery commercial where the guy puts the battery on his shoulder and says "I dare you to knock the battery off my shoulder." IOW, I dare you to take my CD/DVD/GOG games away from me and deprive me of my own concept of ownership with regards to those games. It just ain't happening. :)

And I would love so see more of jRPGs here.

Hyperdimension Neptunia is long overdue, and I am greatly looking towards Fairy Fencer.

We are no longer discussing this here. It's about ownership and renting now. Stop derailing it with stuff you'd like to see.

Adventure games, there's lots more out there that should be here:)

Oh, I didn't catch the general mood of this thread at first... I see...

JRPGs........

(Quality) VNs! :) Bash away...