**sorry for the double post**

yeah, really what are you complaining about? Most companies don't really have patches worth mentioning, and I can't think of any recent non-indie games that doen't require at least your e-mail address (most of the indies require that these days too)

EA for example requires a very picky about their login (which also requires name and e-mail for games like Dragon Age or Mass Effect 2)

Blizzard requires full name and e-mail address (see starcraft 2.  They used to not require anything to get patches, but their newest game sure does.  WoW requires a credit card and everything else too unless you use only the store bought activation cards)

THQ doesn't really patch their games (I know somebody is going to show up and correct me, but I haven't really seen any THQ games with important patches)

Last Ubisoft game I bought retail didn't require an e-mail address, but instead ran DRM that has a tendency to cause DVD drives to break themselves physically. (see starForce)

2K games I needed an e-mail address, not for patches but to just install the game.

Valve needs a steam account, which usually involves a credit card (i.e. full name + address)

I can't think of any other major publishers who run their own patch systems (i.e. they all use steam or direct2drive or impulse... thus the same or more limiting than impulse)

Honestly, if you want to make up a fake name for your Elemental registration you can.   You can get a free e-mail address from hotmail under a fake name and use it only to get patches if you're so worried about your privacy or whatever your problem is.

EDIT:

me too, but what do you want.  Name a game that's come out for PC in the last 5 years that still does that without some other catch.   Obviously my post isn't directed at you as much as it is the OP, who while I support for not wanting to buy games with DRM and choosing not to buy products that contain DRM... I can't imagine he's planning on buying from any major publishers in the near future.

So because it's possible to steal it, companies should give up any protection at all.  please.  SD doesn't even require a disc in the drive or impulse to be running to play.  You only need a serial for updates.  impulse is painless...the only people that complain about impulse are pirates that want easy updates for their stolen games...

I don't get people being so up in arms about the way SD does their anti piracy. It almost makes me think these people are ringers from other companies. I mean if you consider the incredible lengths that some DRMs make you go through just to play their games, I don't know why anyone would be so angry about making a customer simply register to simply get updates. Steam based games require you to be logged into steam to even play them, and EA was doing that thing where you can only install the game X times. Didn't Ubisoft recently release a game that requires that you constantly contact the internet during game play, only to have a significant connection bug which kicks you out of the game for a single timeout? SD is one of the nicest companies out there with respect to giving players non-intrusive methods of anti-piracy and all they get is crap about it. Unless I am mistaken, didn't one of the DRM manufacturers put a torrent of galciv 2 on their website just to spite SD?

That's your choice, and I choice I make for some games. I think it's kinda excessive, especially since Impulse can be uninstalled afterwards.

The policy you are getting for yourself pretty much limits you to GOG and Gamersgate. 

Wait, it didn't require my email address to install when I purchased a physical copy. Just to patch it through Impulse, which as mentioned, you can just get a free email address.

But if you bought the copy online to where you do have to log in to download/install it, then you gave your email address to _buy_ the game.

...

My opinion?