I resent DRM as much as I resent airport security. Hey, I didn't do anything. Why do I have to go through this crap? It costs SO much money and it gets very very VERY little actually accomplished. At least airport security is VISIBLE and is something of a deterent... to MORONS and PSYCHOS, granted but there's certainly no shortage of those. But in reality we know it won't stop anybody who is A) intelligent or B) serious about it. It has to be tough enough to actually deter the bottom 5% and not be simple enough that those same 5% can just get right past it.

Where it differs from DRM is that DRM is hidden and thus it isn't really a deterrent because you may not know its even there. Imagine a mine field without a sign warning you about mines. Its purpose would be to kill people, not to block a way. If I knew of a way to get to my flight without having to wait in that useless line, believe me I totally would. And I would still fly knowing that other people know about it too because you can't stop the serious people anyway. People pushing DRM just don't care about the collateral damage it causes to stop the bottom 5%.

Having said that, 1 time activation, with a 3-5 times install limit that is removed after 6-12 months (though I wish the activation were removed, not just the limit. so I can install after that activation server is gone), and no disc required in the drive is probably the best thing to happen with DRM EVER. It will NEVER get any better than that. I can live with that especially if I can still download a pirated copy for when the activation server goes offline or if I'm ever forced to call someone to re-activate.

This coming from someone who couldn't get Gears of War to launch last weekend for some unknown reason (though it was definately DRM related because the disc was in the drive and it asked me to insert the disc) I plan on downloading a copy ASAP that works 100% of the time I double click on the icon without having to reboot or put the disc in another drive.

How embarassing is it to ask my pirate friend, "do you have a cracked copy of Gears of War? my retail copy doesn't work because of DRM" (I hope someone important reads that part because it should be embarassing for them too.)