As someone else pointed out, most of these stores make their money from console games (be it new or used), the PC section of a store, if there actually is one, is just a minor nod to get the occasional foot traffic sale: I've seen such places as Game, Virgin Megastores, HMV and the like selling what are now budget PC games in their original (and dusty) initial release packaging... for full RRP.
It's also true that console publishers would love nothing more than to kill off the second hand market. It's a sale of which they see nothing. Nintendo, are one of the first to sell a once use peripheral for the WII (the microphone/webcam thingie) it can not be resold once registered/installed/used.
I think its fair to say that the next generation of consoles will have bigger storage capcities and be plugged in to their respective owners stores with only a minor nod to the retail stores.
Of course, being cynical, I fully expect to see the internet explode, once the PR campaigns are in progress to stop the second hand market, when console gamers are told "Sorry mate, you could of copied it" and sent on their merry way.
And as for DOWII needing BOTH Steam and GFWL installed I point you to my thoughts in frogboys thread "Do you reall want Steam to be your only option"... That's one game TWO widgets and officially I say it is taking the mickey.
