28 great points!! 2 completely off base.
-In regards to piracy you said "Apologists for this crime – yes, it’s a crime – continue with self-serving justifications." Piracy is an excuse developers use when they realize there game sucks. Software is the same way. Get over it. It is in no way a roadblock for the development of blockbuster games. It is simply the crutch that studios like Crytek lean on when there sub-par game falls short of expectations. Develop a quality product and gamers will be lined up at stores across the country to buy it at midnight. Cut corners and release a game that's not worth $50 and guess what? People aren't going to buy it. There going to pirate it.

-In regards to E3 you wrote "A quick check of the games that shone at E3 shows many that are new, original and fresh. " I'm not really sure where to go with this. Did you go to the same E3 as everyone else? Were you drinking heavily at the time? I only ask because everyone else saw the next 12 months packed with the same old recycled crap we've been getting for the last couple years.