Why do Disk Drives matter?

[Azzanation]

Vinther1991 said:

Azzanation said:

most require an online connection and some physical media don't even store the full game on the disks. 

That's a bold statement, can you back that up? According to this site, most physical games do not require online or downloads to be fully played: https://www.doesitplay.org/

I agree that physical has lost some of the benefits it used to have, indeed some games do require downloads or internet, and you anyway need to install all the content on the console. When you could just play off the disk, you saved a lot of hard drive space. Still today, with physical games you get the ownership. Digital DRM is still a nightmare, and what happens if Steam ceases to exist or Sony shots down the PS4 servers?
I think GOG is the only one who actually offers a digital alternative that is superior to physical.

You also missed another benefit of a disc drive. It can play other physical media, such as movies. The digital marketplace for movies is an even bigger nightmare than for games, a 4K UHD Blu-ray does not require any internet or installation and offers better quality than the digital alternatives.

It is an extremely unrealist point you bring up. But ill entertain it. If Valve couldn't afford to operate Steam anymore, Steam will be sold to another company that can. If Sony, Xbox, Steam or Nintendo cease to exist, you would have bigger problems in the industry than a gaming network. 

There simply is too much money to be lost if a major ecosystem decides to close the doors. Its why we rarely see it happen. Steam has existed for 20 years, and Xbox, Nintendo and Sony will also live much longer.