buy the game, download the ISO, problem solved, you're supporting the dev team (which you should if you want the game) but doing away with the DRM
Youre doing away with DRM for youself, but encouraging it in the long term. If you think it's easier than picking up a boxed disc at the store then that's fine. But don't think it isn't making the problem worse for the rest of us. Personally, before Securom got blamed for my disc read issues, I thought a disc was the way to go. Steam works best for me these days.
In reality though, DRM is a lose/lose situation.
Options:
A. Don't buy the game and Don't Download it
Result: sales are lower than expected (see Psychonauts)
Answer: 1. the public doesn't like that kind of game, let's make crappy movie license games, sports games, clone FPS and MMORPGs 2. PC Gaming is dying anyway, lets only make console games
B. Buy the game AND Download it DRM Free
Result: Sales are good, but piracy is high (See Spore)
Answer: 1. think of how many sales we could have had if we had more effective DRM! 2. PC Gaming is dying
C. Don't buy the game, download it instead
Result: Sales are low, piracy is high (see Crysis)
Answer: 1. PC Gaming is dying 2. We need stronger DRM to stop piracy
In short, any download, no matter how strong sales were is going to justify more DRM. But the one unavoidable fact is that people who buy the game are effected, people who crack games for fun are affected, people who download the cracked version from bit torrent are NOT effected. Fail?