StarcraftWire.net - The No-LAN Controversy - A Closer Look.
I am excited to see what BNet 2.0 will offer to replace LAN support and I will not be too quick to judge as I have faith in Blizzard creating quality games and support (which they have being doing for over a decade). I also believe that one of Blizzard's reason to have all players participate in BNet 2.0 is part of their "secret" marketing plan. They plan to monetise BNet through paid features instead of having a monthly fee for BNet. By attracting all players, sponsors, and leagues to one single realm and area, Blizzard can use this system to actually gain money from all their hard work on the network. Having said that, one might say this is just a conspiracy theory.

GamesRadar - Marketing bullshit gamers should stop being a part of.
Perhaps we're cynical though. Age of Conan's special edition did at least come with free beer. Free, fake, digital in-game beer. No, we're not being cynical at all, are we? Let's face it. This is the same marketing model as putting toys in cereal boxes to make sugar-rabid 3 year olds choose one shape of reconsitituted corn shaving over another. Except that you're paying an extra £15 for the toy.