[wilhil]

actually, i think steam works with a distributed system that it can log on to any available server, I know they use servers all around the world for content delivery, would make sense if they used them for logon...

but if the us went under, there is more than just using a little game that you have to worry about!

anyway, everyone thinks of valve and loads of other companies as a big bad place, but really as I tried to say above, this is one of the reasons I love it.

I can move to any pc, install steam, log in, and download ANY game I paid for, and play it in record time, without touching a cd, fine not everyone has broadband, but luckly I am in a adsl2+ area (24mbs) and where I work, I have a 155mb/s (stm-1) connection, the way the world is going, a lot more people will have broadband by the end of the decade...

I am against the loading times that you get from steam'ed games, but apart from that, I love it... read the link in my post further up and that post, and you will know a lot more.

steam and valve DO block your user if you use pirated games/keys that are hacked e.t.c. for other games you own, but really, you only have yourself to blame for that, as for transfering keys, they do charge...

well, as I said, If you have a computer faster than ~3ghz and have a ADSL connection, and do not use pirated games, there is not really a reason for not loving steam, it doesnt need to have cd in drive for games, it just works perfectly... If on the other hand you have a slow machine where starting and running steam in the background interfears with your game, or do not have a fast connection for downloads, then I understand your reasons for not liking it

edit -- just to add to the above, using steam on diffrent machines at diffrent times, I have done at least this, 6 diffrent machines (although at least 2 months between), reloaded HL1 and mods about 8-9 times, HL2 3 times.... they dont charge or question you each time, it is simple to use and works great!