How many examples has Il-2 sold? Have a guess? Granted, some lost souls used Ubi lobby and some even Xfire, but guess how many unique users HL has?

Vast majority plays single player or max single player + occasionally LAN/private server with a few friends.

They dont need Steam's "awesome multiplayer matchmaking and anti cheat VAC, player ranking" etc etc.

So you don't want the game to have a server browser by default/want Oleg and team to waste time programming one when they could just use Steam instead?

I see no reason to force to use Steam. An option would be nice. Not surprised on Ubisoft not providing an MP lobby, though.

Well hey, remember how well their last attempt went. I'd rather use Steam because I expect it'll be around for a long time. Can you imagine how long Ubi would support such an option? They hit the headlines recently for closing a game's official servers less than a year after release.

It may be possible to install from the DVD (although I can't guarantee it). For sure if it is Steam, you can fetch it from their servers whenever you want.

You can choose to back it up as CD or DVD image files (Steam will create whichever you want for you) and you can burn these ISO or just keep them on another hard drive. You can transfer this to another computer or choose to download the game from the steam servers on any computer.

Benefits of Steam in your case should be:

1. Extremely easily available (from disc, backup discs, backup image files or the Steam servers).
2. There is no install process and no need to use a disc & no-disc cracks.
3. Ability to check that the game is correctly installed & uncorrupted, with any broken files replaced. I.e. no need to uninstall-reinstall.
4. No need to manually download & apply patches (auto patching is an option)
5. If installed through downloading from Steam, it is always the latest patched version.

And, perhaps anticheat protection?

Oleg is protecting nearly 10 years work...i'm 100% behind his decision to use steam...like it or not gaming on the pc has moved on because of piracy.. If you don't like using steam well thats just tough.. the poll would indicate that most people are happy with the idea. stop crying.

Who is crying? Did you read my post?

3rd time on 3 different places I have said that I will not use it if I need to run Steam to start the game, offline or online mode. It always gets "misunderstood". I dont mind validating via Steam or having an option to play multiplayer with it.

Steam runs in the background (I think), but you can simply create a desktop shortcut to the game via Steam to start it, games end up in your Program Files/Valve/Steam/steamapps or something like that, you see.

Hated Steam when it came out but quite like it now.