They only encrypt them to prevent achievement exploits (more like encrypting and signing, it's important they know it's your save, not just that you can decrypt it). Everyone jumped to Blizzard's defense for outright banning people from their game for modding/cheating in single player because "oh noes, they might get easy cheevos!"

If the process for moving saves is well documented (sounds like it is now days) I don't see the problem, it's not like your key files are big anyway, compared to the million game saves you probably have.

Yeah, when you know how to circumvent it you're okay. But when you don't - BAM! Fucked saves.
I have a really succinct way of summing up my opinions on this: fuck achievements. Talk about something being far more trouble than its worth. The whole achievement system is the perfect example of such a thing.

Well, in principal I agree with you, but most people do like them, and as far as pandering to the crowd goes, at least encrypting saves doesn't necessarily compromise gameplay (as an example, just look at the DA2 threads). Also, I've always been able to skip over the thing entirely with the games I've played that had it over the years.

I never had an XBOX or an XBOX Live account, so those achievements were something rather new to me. And I like something like a "track-record" for my games.

If the game doesn't offer achievements, I normally keep the last savegame as a trophy.

Microsoft just released a new video highlighting the new "WGX" experience

It's probably the most horrifying thing I have seen this year so far

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBPYdgy35KA

Hey now, the video and the idea are brilliant.

The actual implementation however, will be terrible.

"Achievements" are for Hamsters and 5 year old children to keep them tapping on the food bar in case a food pellet drops into their Skinner Box.....

Achievements are handed out so cheaply now it's pathetic......"You've received 50 Achievement Points for naming your Character!"