Yes the wording of the mail smells of controled leak.

Random important Microsoft dude: Ooops, did I just send our internal mail to the press? :D

So, ive seen seen many famous websites reporting the always online rumor

No mandatory internet connection? Pfft, what is this, 2006?

Most of them relied on a single source, of course. But either way I tend to favor current rumors more than old ones and especially arstechnica more than any site out there.

Really? Interesting, I have to admit I didn't know that the PS4 has already been confirmed to do that. Probably because I don't really care about PS4, at least not yet. But I'm still surprised, I would have expected that to result in an outcry to huge for me to miss.

Orthy saved the day!  Generate backlash so Microsoft has to come out and eventually say no to what was rumored.

Geez, Msoft! Why couldn't you just "leak" this mail a month ago to put and end to the "always-on" rumor? See, it wasn't that hard.

But I hope that doesn't mean the end of used games...

Orthy backlash might of caused them to change plans, and thus there be a pause while the get everything lined up.  The Orthy thing did have an impact, acting as a trial lead balloon..

Let's be realistic here, the reaction that the "always-on" feature caused wasn't unexpected or surprising. If that's what made them change their plans then they have a bigger problem as they don't understand their consumers/market.

And that is more worrisome.

Always On never meant must be connected to internet to work, it is just a buzz term. When MS announced the 360 they used it too, it's not new. The fact is someone misinterpreted, posted it on the net, then the fanboys and MS haters ran with it.