All of the "DRM-Free" games I've purchased from Gamersgate contain no DRM that I have detected, except for the GG downloader. If you strip that out, you'll have a DRM-free backup comparable to something you'd buy from GOG.
Mistakes can be made, though, so if you're concerned about Velvet Assassin, you can email support and ask them to confirm that it's DRM-free. Support will happily explain the details of any game's DRM on request.

Looks much more interesting that steamworks-free King Arthur from Impulse and Gamersgate. Are there any drawbacks in Reactor to having it manage a game? I didnt know there were already big games with Reactor enabled, kudos to them.

Ah, you didn't read my last post in this thread did you. =P
When marked as DRM free, the games generally *ARE* DRM free. The downloader to obtain those games, however, has to check your right to download that game. But that's not DRM being applied to the game proper.

In case anybody is interested I bought Velvel Assassin from Gamersgate so I can confirm it is DRM-free and Steam-free. (downloaded it on one computer, copy the installer to another net-less computer, installed it, played it)

Like the game?

Just to clarify a few things.
1) Impulse is Stardock's content delivery platform. I does not by default have a DRM component. No activation is required for any games on Impulse that don't use a DRM scheme and you can play all games without logging in.
2) Impulse:GOO is Stardock's DRM scheme that can optionally be used for games on Impulse or retail. Any retail game using GOO will automatically be added to your Impulse account if you use the same email for both the activation and the Impulse account. Afaik it only requires the game to be activated online by providing the serial number after installation.
3) Stardock has developed a similar toolset to Steamworks called Impulse:Reactor . It is Not tied to a distribution platform unlike Steamworks. More info here http://frogboy.impulsedriven.net/article/378128/GDC_2010_-_ImpulseReactor_is_revolutionary It's a PR article so keep that in mind while reading it.
Now that that is done with i think it would best if Valve made steamworks not depend on steam(I can dream right? :p) . It's good that they don't seem to contractually bind games to it(At least not just yet. Let's not forget Steamworks is not an established technology yet )

Haven't played enough of the game (only finished the first "section" of the first missing) to answer that, but I plan on playing longer tonight...

Gamers gate is pretty good, but there are some games at least i am wary of because they do not mention wether or not they contain DRM even though 80% or more of their list will say either Tages (install limitted), starforce (i don't particularly know how that works as i thought it was a CD/DVD linking technology) or DRM-free.
As well some bundles don't make it clear and when you look into it one or two components might be DRM-Free but anouther not.

Starforce has an activation model as well. Although, I think they might call that something different.

That sort of a listing typically means it's a serial key. Might be a one time online activation, might just unlock the game locally.

You can always email GG support (or contact them on Twitter) and they'll get back to you with DRM information.

I was all excited to see FEAR 2 on Gamersgate sans Steamworks, but it says "SecuROM"... WTF!

It's the exact same version that Direct2Drive sell. Personally, I'm waiting for it to be discounted before picking it up to replace my Steam copy.

Does it just activate or does it have limited installs? Can it be circumvented with a quick exe swap?

It's being sold on GamersGate. As such, any limits can be ignored.

Or he could always, you know, use Secubegone.