This is based on one of Brad's old ideas.
Basically, make this promise now if you can: that when LH development is finished, that you would offer folks who have the game on DD, a chance to purchase a DVD-rom that is DRM-free. I know you guys say that you never finish development on games , but you haven't had a GC2 update in years , and you did finish War of Magic updates. You did put out this idea for GC2 back in the Impulse days. (Note: when development is finished, so you don't have to keep updating it)
That way, if folks are really worried about things going under, they'll have recourse, and by that point in development, it won't cost you that much money to strip out Steamworks and make it a DVD (it would cost you some money/hours, but I doubt you'll be intregrating Steamworks that much- there's little need in a TBS game)
I think that would ease everyone's fears, and allow you the benefits Steam provides in reducing costs. (I'm assuming the move to Steam-only is largely a time issue, and well, time is money)
Also, this would provide some ease of mind to the folks who worry that Steam could take their game at any time. I know you've promised not to let folks get screwed in the past with Rebellion , but folks won't believe until you've had a case where you could make good (and no one AFAIK has been screwed by Steam and purchased one of your games on Steam, so you haven't had the chance to keep your word on that)
Is this feasible/smart? I doubt this is feasible for Rebellion since it's a MP game, but it would be for a SP game like LH.