Lot of points here.

I agree with makwikus2, that some games, especially DOS games are very difficult sometimes to find the correct exe
As to it not being DRM, I am just saying that anytime I have to open a game through an app (like Steam) I do consider it DRM. If Origin or Uplay have to open their app before starting a game, I call that DRM too. If I can take steps to get around that "DRM", I consider it a bind. So yes, I should be able to install to Galaxy 2.0 and then play from the desktop shortcut without Galaxy having to open first.

For older games that open in 3 seconds, It just doesn't seem right to wait 40 seconds for Galaxy to open first!

So your are practically saying that there is no difference between gog galaxy, steam client , uplay client,e ctc. Are you sure about that ?

some games when installed thru Galaxy refuse to run directly and ask to launch Galaxy first. I had couple of such issues myself. Reinstalling that game from offline installer fixes this issue. So yes, in some cases when game build for Galaxy needs MP, achievements or other Galaxy goods it might act like DRM. In that case it is no better than steam, Uplay (these clients also have occasional DRM free games you can run directly, even Uplay).

I must admit that I did not come by such cases as usually Galaxy is good enough for me, and if it really does not run without galaxy, I have to agree that this can be considere4d DRM. But having occassional DRM - freeness either by accident/carelessness/stupidiy (still to be decided in case of the Epic Game Store) does not make it comparable, as its a minority, not advertized as such and most probably not captured in internal statistics (so the craeator/seller can see no relation of sales figures inclusion/absence of a DRM mechanism). Plus the option that gog customers are always able to downlaod an installer directly

But I doubt that has much to do with the agenda of the person that I was answering to, as he did not address it as specific as you did. He just wants the upmost convenience for his special use case and draws in "the bigger picture" to cater his argument with no real connection, as he just igrnores that he has always the option to download the installer package manually without the need of Galaxy.