I strongly disagree with the service argument with regard to piracy. If someone offers a $60 game for free but only if it involves dragging your privates through 10 metres of broken glass, I imagine quite a large portion of pirates would still choose to do this over spending $60 on a new game. While a 'slight' exaggeration, it ultimately boils down to the extent a pirate will go to avoid spending any money. Game publishers and developers like to label it as gamer entitlement, I just see it as common sense. If you have the option of getting something of value for free and face no immediate dire repercussions (besides lacerations to your genitalia), no service in the world by any of these Publishers can match that. Even PSN+ that gives you free games every month doesn't come close as a fee is still required.
Also before someone mentions Steam, the downside of Steam is that it's essentially DRM, there's no sugar-coating it, I make sure to buy all my PC games DRM free if possible.
Also I don't mind Jim Sterling. I particularly like his ironic articles. His mere existence is a mockery of video game journalism and for that I like him.
