wouldn't it be better to have everything on net on properly back-upped servers...
No, I would prefer a physical copy of the software that doesn't require online activation to use so that if my ISP gets cut off due to roadworks tearing large chunks out of the infrastructure (rare, but has happened), or the company that makes the game goes bust, or I don't want to be online anymore (not very likely, but you never know), or my modem explodes, I can still play it.