... Excluding possibly Nintendo. I dont think Microsoft will back out of DRM and i don't know if Sony will follow them. However, i think after Sony learns the benefits and negative of online DRM the PS5 will have it as well. Nintendo may not because they tend to not put so much focus on internet functions, but they hate piracy as much as the next gaming company so it won't be too surprising if the next Wii has it too.

Basically, i think DRM will happen because gaming companies hate piracy and the One is kinda of the guinea pig for the 9th gen consoles to learn or follow.

What do you guys think? Am I stating the obvious here, or will DRM really ruin the console experience and get dropped?

If Wii U is a big success, it will get dropped. If XBOne is a big success it will be kept.

I think I will tell you after 8th gen actually starts, it's a bit to early to make a call now, don't you think? :P
And to be honest I don't give a damn what happens in 9th gen right now.

9th gen will be download or even streaming only which will automatically mean no used games anymore.

and since i already use this system for almost all games on pc, i don't really care about it. if i would have faster internet like everyone else who lives here i would already buy no retail games anymore.

In the 9th gen all games will only be downloadable, so there would be no need for online DRM.

I really don't think there will be a 9th gen as such. Identifiable generations will end after this one as gaming will fling more towards the "service" side of things.

*5 years from now*

What's a console?

Even if they don't this generation, Sony and Microsoft will definitely both have online DRM by then while Nintendo still won't have online at all.

I voted Whats the for the lulz.

I think so, yes. That will be around 2020, so I would imagine most of the developed world will have fibre optic internet coverage, and poorer countries will be starting to get it as well.