All perfectly true I suppose, but really why bother? The value of Object Desktop as a product is diluted at best with the current versions of Windows and their products need a portal to really be useful and convenient. I would gladly purchase and use those product through a portal like Steam but I for one won't be bothering with single publisher portals any more. Frankly, I don't trust Stardock with portals anymore either. If I purchase their products through a 3rd party in the future, then I will be protected from whatever "business decisions that frankly makes a good deal of sense" too.
Whatever else you may think, the fact is that there is a mostly silent population of us out here that placed confidence in Stardock and put our money where our mouths were by enthusiastically spending our money with them on Impulse. They've shown the value of that loyalty by selling Impulse. So, now that I know Stardock wishes to be dealt with only indirectly through 3rd parties, I do hope they intend to publish all of their products through other portals because I will miss those products if they do not.
I suppose my opinion on this will seem harsh to most people here. I get that. At end of the day though, it is a simple fact that Stardock's products, games or otherwise, will simply enjoy a much greater audience on portals with much larger audiences. SDC is simply a fringe option these days. I see the Stardock games going this way already. I suppose Object Desktop will surely survive in some form through the next few years, but I don't believe SDC will be the best option going forward and if Stardock really doesn't want to be in the business of supporting a portal, then why should I consider supporting them in doing just that yet again?
