Dagok-
If a game crashes while playing in online mode, Steam won't let you back into the game for about a quarter of an hour while it waits for your account to ping out.
LOL bullshit. This one is funny.
Bullshit my ass. It takes 10 minutes before steam will let you back into the game. I don't care what you say, this HAPPENS TO ME. Every time Half-life has crashed. Not too many times, granted, but I cant name another game that I cant get back into immediately if it crashes. I dont like being treated like a pirate every time THEIR software fails.
Half-Life 2 and other Steam games are the only ones banned from installation by the IT department at my work (and many others, from what friends tell me) because of the potential they pose for an invasive attack.
Good. Considering its a place of WORK, you shouldn't have games installed to begin with. And this is common practice for most companies, they do not allow personal programs to be installed. Has nothing to do with Steam or Valve.
You know, I've worked plenty of places where we were professional enough, and they trusted us enough to load a few games on our computers. Usually only for after-hours play. As for the security risk which steam poses, I agree there too. I don't like any software on my computer which goes out automatically and tries to download things. Especially when I have as little control over it as I have over steam. Add to this that Valve has far from proven themselves in the area of security, and I have specific reason to mistrust steam. Even companies who have been doing security stuff for YEARS have their stuff cracked.
The one true problem is the Offline mode, it doesnt work perfectly for everyone and has it's flaws. Big fucking deal, I could care less as I have already said.
My my my. So the one problem you ADMIT is real, you classify as "Big fucking deal", and you could care less. Except for the people who don't have always-on internet connections, it's a huge deal.
Your claim that buying half-life 2 on release day via steam was cheaper than in the stores? Bullshit. Due to "it's a new release" discounts, most retail stores were cheaper than purchase via steam.
You pooh pooh all of us who have brought up real issues with Steam, and accuse those of us complaining of inventing problems and ignorance. All of the problems I mentioned were experienced directly by either myself or my friends. None of the issues I've brought up have anything to be adjusted in the steam configuration.
All the issues you claim to be imaginary.
I dont know what your motivation is, but you are either a world-class asshole, or very talented at seeing only what you want to.
--Ikarius