As noted, Steam itself is DRM and I'm no fan of the Steam concept. I like having a physical disc in my hands and don't like the idea of having to DL GBs of game files every time I want to install. I also have a rig that's not connected to the internet at all and usually load my games on that one as well so I can experiment with different game paths and mods. Steam is not a viable option for my situation.

I never said there were any games that had taken advantage of the enhanced security that Steam can offer, only that Steam can do that if the publisher wants it (its in the Steam publisher sales pitch). And the point that you are missing is, the way that EULA statement is worded, it sounds like they have taken away the option to use Steam in offline mode, which is not at all buggy for me and many others. If that is the case, how is Steam any better than an install restricted SecuROM version of the game?
Just to settle this once and for all, I have contacted Steam support and posted on the EA subforum of the Steam forums to get a full explanation of that statement.

Cogadh, I actually do think it's just a cut and paste job on the EULA. I know the Mass Effect one is similar, if not identical, but players are reporting no troubles playing the Steam version of MEPC in offline mode.

Go to the other EA games pages. They aren't all the same, a few are similar but there are many that don't even have that information.

Ah well, thanks for the heads up Weclock. Makes no real difference to me though. As I said earlier, Steam isn't a viable alternative for me anyway.

I just got it for the PC, and graphics make me want to make love to my computer screen. On that note, the controls are much better (mouse and keyboard rule) and that's about it.

You do know you can back steam games up to DVD's and install from them as many times as you want, right? In fact I just backed Mirrors Edge up onto a DVD and plan on installing it on my other computers then keeping the DVD in a case on my shelf.
That's pretty physical if you ask me.

Urb, I've seen all the arguments for Steam and against. I know you can back games up, but that still will not allow me to install them onto my off-line rig. Many people love Steam and that's cool. It's a wonderful service for them. But I don't like the concept and it's not for me.

I got gifted Red Alert 3 on Steam, which has the same EULA, and I can play it no problem in offline mode with the Internet unplugged. Maybe there was some authentication when I first installed it, but it certainly doesn't require the Internet to play. I'm pretty sure Mirror's Edge will be the same and that's close enough to "no DRM" for me.

And you have to reactivate them online using Steam after each instalation.
This "backup" is just to help you spare bandwidth because in the end as as long as Steam is there and they have the rights for Mirror Edge you can redownload it as much as you want and if Steam ever goes down (or Valve lose the right to distribute Mirror Edge) and you no longer can re-download it, you won't be able to re-activate your "backup" either.

It's been stated by Valve that in the event Steam "shuts down" they already have the ability to deactivate the requirement for authentication, meaning you will still be able to use your backups. When games are removed from sale, you can still download them, too (if you have already bought it). You just can't buy them.
(what is up with my apostrophe being escaped?)

sometimes game companies go under and their games are no longer available on steam, most notably Codename Gordon.

You can still download it. It's no longer listed in the store due to the developer's website being hardcoded into the game. The problem there being that the domain is now a porn site. If you want to get Codename Gordon, you can use this:
steam://install/92
Just drop that in your browser, if you have Steam protocols registered (which should register when you install Steam) it'll pop up the download Codename Gordon prompt.
Now for the EULAs, I'm still fairly certain that they are copy and pasted from original blurb, such as from the EA Store (I'd actually recheck this but I don't have my proxy service installed here and EA now restrict their stores regionally based on IP redirects). But I do recall when Mass Effect turned up and people noticed the EULA, that they were told it was copy and pasted from the EA store at that time.

i have it backed up, thanks.

Speaking of games being no longer available on Steam, what the hell happened to The Movies? Vanished, right when I was just about to buy it, too. :(