i need a hard copy from what i buy...
That's a fair enough consideration. But, how long do you expect to still be able to get hard copies? 10 years? 15? Eventually we will all be buying from digital distribution platforms.
We can always back up our downloaded content to disc.
Drifitng OT now though.....

I'm not sure about Gears of War, but with Grand Theft Auto IV it explicitly states in the EULA that the license is valid until such time that the owner (publisher) decides it is no longer valid. So any time they decide that you do no longer own the licence it is gone. It may seem odd, but that is what you sign up for/pay for, you 'rent for and undefined period'.
Really, i never knew that. Is that all platforms? That being the case, and this is a wish that i doubt will ever come to light, but, i think it's high time that the software companies made the EULA availbale to be read before purchase of any game/product.
Given prior knowledge to purchase, i will still clear of such limited titles just out of general principle. Again, another case of DRM encouraging piracy, not preventing it.
I think GC2/SINS has proven that.