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Digital only doesn't mean you have to download it.

Let's use Microsoft in this case. Microsoft could provide a kiosk at a retail location, where you make your purchase. From that kiosk, you insert a thumb stick, enter in your gamertag, and it copies your copy of the game to the thumb drive.

Go home, stick it in your console, and either it just works or you enter in a code from your receipt to fully license it. No long downloads. For those who have fast connections or are willing to wait, they can download directly from home, but for those who can't a quick and easy way to get the game.

Or maybe you purchase the game via your console but obtain the game via the kiosk using your mobile phone as verification. Walk up to the kiosk send the authorization code to the kiosk from your phone, it copies a fully licensed copy to your thumb drive or once again provides you with a code to plug in when you get home and install it.

You could also have a Special Edition digital retail package too. Where you get a special edition thumb drive with the game installed on it, a code to enter in, and possibly other goodies.

Digital doesn't have to mean download only. There are options with digital.