Wasn't this also during the period where installing off the disc never even worked properly, Steam would just download the whole thing?

Well the game did install from the disc, but then it said it won't start because the version was obsolete or somesuch, and it proceeded to dl a buttload of files from steam, so I had to install the game twice, and forced to be online even though I just wanted singleplay.

I guess the message for you kids is, why pirate a game when you can have a much worse experience paying for it? :-P

I do, for the games I like, or those I intend to play again

- a physical copy WILL get lost, damaged, "borrowed" by friends, etc...
- less hassle to make them work (I know it will work on my system without having to cruise the web to find a solution to some obscure compatibility problem)
- no older DRM blocking my game (some older disc-check can be pure nightmare)
- no annoying noise from the CD during play
- less hassle (find game box, take CD, insert in drive, wait for the drive to recognise the thing, vs doubleclick on game icon), especially since I have 2 computer in different places.

I'd add that it takes less physical space, but since I kept all my old boxed sets (Aaaah, the gorgeous maps of older games like Morrowind or Ultima...), that wouldn't work so well for me. ^^

Yes, I do. Predominantly boxed retail copies or past download-ables before I found GOG, to save up on hard drive space. Even though I should, I'm a little loathe to replace purchases I've got on Steam. Luckily, so far, this doesn't amount to more than 5.

I've specifically bought a fixed number of games on Steam, but that was the cut-off point. All future purchases are GOG-only. The only ones I still buy from there, are a long-running adventure series, and 1 or 2 odds and ends.

Drm-free always. :)

Yes. Of the 110 GOG games in my library (including 12 freebies) 20 are replacements for disc versions I already own. Just over half of these 20 were bought as back up for disc versions which still work (sometimes with a bit of tweaking). ; 3 (the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games) were bought as back up and also to avoid Tages ; and 4 replace disc versions which I can no longer get to work : Total Annihilation, Anachronox, Theme Hospital, Alpha Centauri. The rest are games I have never owned before.

I don't like having to rebuy games but for one reason or another (usually incompatibility) it is now often necessary. The upsides of digital downloads have already been mentioned and I agree with them. On the downside, to state the obvious, downloading digitally requires an internet connection. I played boxed games happily on my first PC for two or three years before I even knew what a modem was ! Another downside is the difficulty of finding a way to read digital manuals for the more complex games. I eventually found an app which reads .pdf files for my iPad, but if I didn't have an iPad I would need to print them off, which is an unwanted hassle since I don't own (or really want) a printer.

Replace, no. Supplement, yes.

I personally have a really hard time getting rid of physical copies. They look great on a shelf! Though some of them are getting kind of pricey, especially older console (NES, SNES) and big boxed PC games, so digitial can be a savior. I am moving across the country in a couple of weeks for school and I do not want to risk damaging or losing those physical games/boxes. That's where things like GoG and virtual console and even abandonware or emulators have saved the day. I'm not against rebuying a game I have physically on GoG, especially on sale, since it's like $2, lol. Convenience is nice.

I have not yet replaced Summoner, Warlords Battlecry 2, Sim City 4 and Heroes of Might and Magics. I probably will one day, but I have 0 desire to play those right now. Once the inkling to play comes up again, I'll probably go ahead and grab them. Or if there was a 80% off combo of all 4 of them. I'd buy it right now. (hint hint GOG staff :D)

I hope GOG lasts forever. I don't want to torrent anything if I don't have to, but if GOG went under, I'm sure all of their games would be available as torrents forevermore. Would it be legal to get them if you owned the GOG license?

I figure in the next 5 or 6 years, I'll probably have a backup HDD and a backup backup HDD that will store all of my files until Iran detonates a nuke in our upper atmosphere. Then I'll probably not care too much.

(I'm picturing myself running naked in the rain from man-eating crazy Memphis-dwelling psychos while clutching to my Baldur's Gate 2 disc. "No! No! You can eat me, but treat my disc well!")