I honestly don't see why given that current versions of SecuROM are totally harmless.

"Sir, the PC version of Modern Warfare 2 will force players to install our competitor's software. What should we do?"
"Don't worry, I have a foolproof plan. We'll simply not sell the game. That way, if people want to buy it, they'll have to buy it from Steam. Gamers who want to purchase Modern Warfare 2 will have no choice but to not give us any money whatsoever, so we'll make exactly zero dollars off of the biggest game launch of the year!"
"Your plan is nothing short of sheer brilliance, sir. We'll show those bastards at Valve who they're dealing with."

Farkin' awesome.

Firstly there is the fact that D2D flat out doesn't work with Paypal. Which means I couldn't buy from them if I wanted to. Secondly, there's the fact that I don't really want to buy from them even if I could. Thirdly, just because SecuROM can be harmless, doesn't somehow make every version supplied with every game harmless. There are many different implementations of SecuROM. It depends on the publisher as to how bad it is.

While I'd agree in the case of *older* games, there is only one version of SecuROM now available -- it's just that publishers can pick and choose which elements of it are implemented. But all current implementations, be it a CD check or online activations are coming from the same base code.

That's true, Telltale games have SecuROM and I haven't had any problems with it. Now TAGES, that's something else...

Yes, but MW2, Fear 2 and Empire Total War have Steam in their physical releases = no trading in.
I've heard GamersGate allow transfer of ownership. Also, this is a quote from EA's EULA that appears on EA's store website as well as on their D2D games: "You may make a one time permanent transfer to all your rights to install and use the Software to another individual...provided that...the Technical Protection Measures used by the Software supports such transfers". It would be interesting whether this statement holds true for someone who did try and transfer their rights to a game to someone else.

That was covered by the second sentence. But like I wrote: the real issue is how unclear the rights restrictions are on the packaging or how online stores never mention it.
Interesting. I like GamersGate, but I didn't know they allowed resale. Plus I've bought a few titles from EA's Store thanks to their cheapness so knowing I could transfer the rights is useful. Although I don't know how you'd go about that. Maybe they have a rights transfer tool too?

Yeah, if a game uses TAGES, GamersGate will be my first choice (especially if they are imposing activation limits). Didn't really get that choice with Riddick though and I may well soon have to find out how willing D2D will be to deal with activation issues =S

That's what I stated: there are different implementations. It can be invisible. It can be a pain in the arse. It can refund activations automatically over a period of time. It can have fixed, non-refundable activations. It can have no activation limits whatsoever.
Gotta love the date checker though. It's like saying "This game will be cracked before it's even released. We know this, but we're just putting you through this crap because we're paid a lot of money by the publisher to do so".
As stated, that coupled with the fact that I couldn't use D2D if I wanted to makes Steam seem far more preferable.

TAGES is fail incarnate. Is it just me, or does it sound like some kind of infectious skin disease?

So they've joined the boycott? Good for them!
I read, though i have no idea if it's true, that it is possible for devs to leverage a lot of the functionality of Steamworks without the user ever realising that Steamworks is being used. If so, it seems like developers/publishers don't want to do that.
But really, it's not much different than stores selling physical copies that connect to Steam (their competitors), or selling 360s that connect to xbox marketplace, or Wiis that connect to wiiware, or DSis that connect to dsiware, or whatever.
(well, i guess it is a little different, but not a lot).

Those companies know that they risk losing income because of this. But sometimes you need to take a stand and damn the consequences.
And this is actually a great game to take this stand with. PC gamers are already pissed off at Activision/IW about this game. I feel Impulse, GamersGate and D2D are getting some important marketing over this and it just may help them in the long run.

I always use Paypal to buy from them. In fact, I don't even have to enter the Paypal-site as they have my account-data on file.
D2D is a good store, generally. I much prefer it to Steam. I did have problems with one of their Securom-protected games, but they helped me get an unlock code and apologized profusely. Besides, I mostly buy DRM-free games from them.
I think what they and the others are doing now makes sense. They will lose money on this, but they're also sending out a very strong signal to other developers. And most developers who are considering to use Steam for protection don't have the luxury of being Activision.

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1015308
Why am I not surprised by the fanboy nature of most of those comments?

I love how they like to go all the way to the owner and claim it's all Rupert Murdoch's doing.