No, I think you misunderstood me again. I want to play games and pay for them, but DRM is one reason why I might not pay for them. If I only wanted to play games without paying, I would probably say so. Just to clarify it a bit: if DRM was removed for good games that now have DRM, I would buy them. Simple as that. Remove DRM, get a happy customer. Yes, I've also read the OP. I'm still not sure of your point, unless it's really that you don't understand my point and simply think of me as an evil pirate.

@shams: Have you ever noticed how easily cracks work? They take days at max to create and share, and after that they're available for everyone's easy use. Online activation works only as long as there's no crack available; after that, the whole online activation thing is bypassed and its existence matter no more. In general I'd say that single-player can't be copy-protected, while CD-keys are pretty much enough for multiplayer.

By the way, GOG.com rocks! I think it's the only online service I've purchased games from, and that's simply because it has no DRM. Also, prices are pretty good. I would even have bought Far Cry if I didn't own the disc version already (yes, the unpirated version which I haven't even played online). If only Deus Ex and id games would be released on GOG.com... Deus Ex would be an instant purchase while id games are something I'd even buy a second time (well, so far I only own all the Wolfenstein games and Doom 3 + expansion).

All you need to do is go to the store and buy the game.  Then you can buy and play the game.  See how easy that is?

However, that isn't what you want.  You want to play the game but not buy it which is exactly what you are doing.  You are enjoying a good or service without paying for it.  If you want to protest DRM then do not buy the game and do not pirate it.  That is the honest, legal way to protest something which you dislike.

The bold point is very ironic to me and since you are not capable of understanding it without having it explained, I guess I will help you.  You say that pirating doesn't hurt anyone when the OP is an example of a company struggling to handle the server load of people playing with pirated copies.  Had those people purchased legitimate copies of the game, the company likely could have afforded a few more servers and improved the game's experience for everyone.  However because of all those people playing with pirated copies the ones who had legal copies suffered.

I want to play the game but I don't want to pay because of DRM. However, I have a way to play without paying for DRM. What do I do? Yes, I pirate the game, and buy it if DRM gets removed (a theoretical possibility so far I guess, as I haven't heard of anyone removing DRM altogether, only making it less strict about what you can do and what not). Maybe not pirating would be better but this isn't too bad either. I won't miss the games if they make pirating impossible, I'll just play less games. Easy.

And now I got you final point, though I must say I don't think it's going to stay that way for a long time. After all, all those players will realize they can't play online and will probably give up. Then again, I don't stress servers with pirated copies myself as I realize it's mostly useless so that's not my fault either. But I do get your point and must say that I was somewhat right/wrong instead of completely right. About the last paragraph, that is.

Haven't played anything but MMOs on the pc in the past few years, how bad is DRM really and how much of the hate is just someone's made up principles?

Obviously they can place huge restrictions, but what is the best DRM experienced so far? As in, causing the least inconveniences in likely to happen situations (changing computer, reinstalling etc). And if there is a case of DRM, whose behaviour you're fine with, are you still against it just because it's DRM?

To me, I think it's both a principle and by stubborn defense of my rights as a consumer. Sort of. I'd say it's usually not very bad but activation limits are something I hate especially much. Then there's Steam which ties the games to one account - and for Valve's games, there's no other options. Mostly it's the online activation part though... I think. Having to activate the game online only for single-player sucks, even if it isn't usually an issue.