Yes that is the kind of nonsense they believe. I am not an expert on these websites but a brief look down some of the lists in 99% of cases it is hacked steam versions on offer. Shouldn't be any surprise seeing that steam get all the games far earlier, they are updated and have all the dlc/other content, and are generally cheaper. Can you really see a hacker going, "actually I will wait 6 months to get the hack free game which hasn't been patched and doesn't have all the content, that's what my following want".

until you realise that GOG's Tos they have for the games they are selling here is not quite different than the ones on steam, except DRM cut out

You still dont legally own you games, just the license you use it and no, being able to make offline installer doesnt changes this fact.

GOG is great. I mean, why else are we on this particular forum thread at all, right? I myself find loving GOG somewhat more than Steam. I have sentimental reasons, I like the DRM free idea. But don't forget that bigger audience brings more money. Bigger audience requires a bigger variety of features. More money from that given audience gives an ability to provide mentioned features. And in turn, it earns more money and the wheel spins on and on and on...

There are plenty of games that you may want to play, yet can not wait long enough to appear on GOG platform, or they may never appear here at all. What do you do? One of the most likely scenarios, you go to Steam, buy the game on sale and don't bother yourself with all that DRM thing. You install the game and you successfully play it. Just like thousands of other gamers out there. GOG and Steam provide same service - they sell you digital versions of games. Main difference - they sell somewhat different games and platforms have their own slightly altered features.

GOG can only be an alternative to the games that are being sold on both platforms. Given those specific games, the question is: what features on GOG are better on those games, compared to what Steam provides?
I have always wanted to ask this question. Apparently, it is easier to develop games for Windows platform than for Linux. Why else so many games are on Windows platform? Be considerate and correct me if I am wrong in any way. So, why wait and demand for Linux versions of your favorite games when you know that developers are most likely already working on a new project, rather than decoding entire thing for a new OS, when you can get yourself a computer Windows OS used specifically for games?

I do understand that money does not grow on trees. And getting a powerful enough rig simply to play a few games is too expensive of an entertainment. But are there any other reasons?

Asking only out curiosity. Note: I am a casual player, and pretty much an insignificant every day consumer. How is DRM ruining your game experience if you buy the game, download the game both from GOG and Steam alike, install it, accept to whatever terms they give you, and in the end you use the product as it was intended to use - you simply play the game and uninstall it afterwards?

For engines who don't natively support Linux sure.

As for me there's many reasons, first off i already have a Windows gaming PC with high end parts including i7 8700K and GTX 1080TI and also one Linux PC with Ryzen 2600X and RX 580 so i can play all the games i want so that's not the issue but the thing is i don't trust Microsoft as a company or like their business ethics like forcing updates, force Windows 10 on hardware level and other things.

Lack of Linux versions for games is the single largest reason why i haven't abandoned Windows in it's entirely for Linux.

Never thought of that, it's interesting. Thanks for insight. I myself have a decent laptop with Windows 10 installed and seemed to never have problems regarding games. This is why I could hardly understand the demand for Linux versions.

A license IS OWNING the game.
You OWN that license

Steam you get a subscription.

A EULA isn't a legally binding contact, everything that a ELUA can forbid you to do is because of the Law not because of the EULA.

DRM allows additional companies to add and enforce additional clauses with out the pesky need to go to court or be legally binding.
For me DRM stops me, my wife and my children playing different games on different computers at the same time.

Doesnt matter since neither of them deserves getting your money.

Steam is pure cancer and GoG is doing everything it can to become just like that.

Use them to browse then buy directly from the devs.

I dont see whats the big fuzz around DRM-free games anyway, if you ever lose access to your games you can just torrent them again.

^
This is what going twenty years without a Stanley Cup does to you.

Gog is better alternative than steam for indie games.
However, the steam discounts on triple A title games are way too good for gog to compete.

When it comes to indie games and other normal games, I go gog. But for triple A title games like Fallout 4, Evil Within, Transformers that will never ever come on gog, I go with steam.

I hope it's clear that DRM can still be evil as a concept or as a potential risk, even if nothing bad happens right now. Evilness is not limited to practical considerations, although the practical impact is certainly important.

Basically you ask what exactly I don't like about DRM.

When I buy a game on GOG, I download the installer, I backup the installer (I actually really do, it's not a big thing) and then, whenever I feel like it, I install it and I play it and I uninstall it and I install it again. It works quite well and give me a rather strong sense of possession (although I know that possessing digital goods is a difficult concept). I can install it at any time on any of my computers and I know that if it worked in the past, it will work again.

With Steam I cannot do that. I have to ask every time I want to play or install for permission from Steam to do so. Did it happen in the past, that Steam gave no permission, you may ask. And indeed it happened only very rarely for me (and could be rectified after some time in the cases where it didn't work right away). However, I don't like them checking up on me. I kind of fear that Steam might cut me off at any time (they didn't). It feels less like a possession, more like playing at someone else's mercy. There is a certain risk, DRM will keep me from playing, although it's relatively small with Steam.

It's mostly the feeling of possession and who is in control that is quite different between GOG and Steam. With GOG I have the feeling that as soon as I bought the game, I'm done with GOG. With Steam I have rather the feeling that I pay for the possibility to play the game but I still need to rely on them.

Does it make a big difference for the casual player? I don't know, but I know that it makes a difference for me. I don't want to be part of DRM in computer games and in a way it's kind of ruining my experience.

Yeah but a rule that cannot be controlled and cannot be enforced might as well not exist (if a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear...)

This is very informative, thank you. I get it. I myself own games both on GOG and Steam alike and did feel the difference in terms of possession. GOG has my strong admiration in this case. Buying games on Steam does indeed feel like renting them out with possibility of losing access to them at any time. GOG service helped me a lot when I had a terrible internet connection at home. So, I would download games while in university and then play at home offline without client checking up on me.

Speaking of possession, do you still buy games on DVDs? Or is it becoming a thing of the past? I myself loved hoarding game CDs and DVDs, then exchanging with friends for some periods of time. But nowadays either my friends don't buy physical copies of games or the system differs (PC, PS4, Xbox). Can't argue that usually digital games are much cheaper as well.

Though it also became a thing that when you buy a game DVD, inside you find a digital code specificaly for Steam for example. Bought Kingdoms of Amalur like that. Had one more, don't remember title now. That's a bit of a shame if the same game is available on different digital stores.

I have about 2,000 physical games... somewhere in the attic. I buy almost no physical copies anymore, since most game media are just just a Steam client and a code. Also I prefer original versions, or English versions* over German versions except for German games, and most physical versions are localised (and sometimes censored).

*because the English localisation of i.e. French games has often higher production values than the German version - bigger market.

For me it's static vs fluid versioning.

Steam is forever updating its platform in which the games you've subscribed to have been hitched to. This means that when Valve decides that the platform will no longer maintain compatibility with a specific OS, that user now has a digital library useless for his/her gaming rig. It does not offer alternative arrangements.
Steam assumes that the user will keep up with it's requirements in order to keep using the games in their libary. This is forcing the user's hands. Those who constantly upgrade and don't mind a really old game becoming useless in their library aren't going to be worried about this.

GOG however offers offline installers, and I would encourage all to download and keep these backups for those with older OSes, lest one day a future update breaks your aging system. The beauty of GOG is that they aren't forcing an immediate update down your throat, and not requring online activity to install it (something a standalone, offline old gaming PC, or emulated virtual machine might be restricted to). This is well suited to old games on old systems.

I my honest opinion, those who have little money to spare on entertainment are more likely to choose GOG's approach over Steam, because unless they can afford to keep up, Steam will roll over them.