MajicMan: The statement "Online is necessary" may only refer to needing online connectivity if you want to play online or play multiplayer (that would suck for no LAN support), but it doesn't say the game requires and online connection for the single player campaign.
As for games being a service - that is really old. We called them arcades back then and you paid a quarter at a time to play a game or get a continue, or more lives, etc.
Adding DLC to a game as a service doesn't have to be bad. Look at the Borderlands series, the DLC expansions have been excellent featuring new characters to play, new NPCs added to the universe, new large campaigns, new weapons, new level cap and both are excellent games in single player and multiplayer.
I don't see CDP going in the loot crate garbage direction. I don't see 2077 being Battlefield 2, Forza 7, Middle Earth Shadows of War, Destiny series, etc.
Old hat mate, next up is pay per render, you can of course play black and white renders totally drm free offline, but if you want colour...