I really don't get the guys upset about Steamworks in this case. This isn't a DRM-free/sensible implementation of DRM title suddenly switching to something much more restrictive for the sequel.
It was Tages. Poorly done Tages, at that.
The retail version was the disk check form but it was so poorly done that the dreaded "insert the original DVD" error was fairly common, forcing you to contact support to get an activation key that was only good for one activation. Retail's DRM wasn't that bad but it wasn't particularly good either, the problem is that they completely missed the boat with the digital versions in a time where that's what a lot (not all, don't yell at me Velvet) of PC gamers seem to prefer.
It's bad enough that it used Tages at all, but 3 activation limit, no revokes, and no regenerating activations? As someone that genuinely prefers digital distribution (be it Steam, D2D, GoG, or GamersGate...the only one I simply won't use anymore is Impulse), this immediately killed any interest I may have had for Risen no matter how cheap it gets.
I realize certain people in this thread prefer physical copies over digital distribution, but even for them this was hardly ideal. You'd have to really, truly hate Steam and Steamworks to prefer Risen 1's DRM over what Risen 2 will be using, quality of the games aside.