I've never really liked Steam, Origin, or any other "service" that requires it be running for you to locally play a game you bought on your own PC.  First and foremost, I often enjoy games well after their "shelf-life" has expired.  When these services eventually go away (and they always do), it usually means the games I paid for no longer work.
Another reason I don't like them is because they get hacked.  Most recently, it was Steam. (http://www.hardwarecanucks.com.....am-server-intrusion/)
What did the hackers get this time?

Quoted Text

... information including user names, hashed and salted passwords, game purchases, email addresses, billing addresses and encrypted credit card information.

I think I'll be uninstalling Origin.  http://decryptedtech.com/index.....usive&Itemid=138

I still need Steam to play Civ V though.