So you like a game with dated graphics, frame rate issues, clunky controls

Even if you download the game off steam with a retail key, you'll still need the CD in the drive (or so I've read last week).

Ok.. half of you are missing the point entirely. Especially if you bought the CD. The second you pay for the game you have fair use. I can legally download a NO CD patch for a game REGARDLESS of their EULA.

While I agree, why not make HL:S, DOD:S etc available for one off purchase via Steam to those that didn't or couldn't buy the special edition versions of the games?

Pisses me off that Valves fight to stop the Piraters could very easily carry over and hit us good folks by closing down our steam accounts, making our shiny new copy of HL2 look like a coaster.

This whole steam experiment doesn't sit right. Too much control to Valve.

Notice that Day of Defeat Source game... you can pre purchase it... Gabe, "We can make users pay to play mods on our steam network!!!!"

Tons of people will bitch and flame about how evil steam is and how you don't actually own it. How the you might not even be able to play the game in a few years if Valve folds or something. There will be a ton of valid points made, many of which I agree with.

Not surprising really. The reason Steam was developed is to help game developers, never was about the customers of the game.

Actually, telling someone to take control of THEIR situation themselves is a great argument. Is the government supposed to take care of the workers? Not in this case. They have a choice to make a change. If you work at McDonalds and you don't like it, but still want to work in the industry, you go across the street to Taco Bell or Burger King.

Perhaps it'll be like UT2004 and they get automatically switched to DVD Edition, and you have to specially select the CD version if you really want it.