Yes but the poll and question isn't about which is better it's about what you prefer, and I prefer having physical copies of most of my games. If I owned DQ11 on pc I wouldn't have a physical copy, plus the simple fact that my internet is limited and downloading games really isn't an option for me. Yeah sorry I don't want to argue about this anymore that wasn't why I started this topic, it isn't so that someone can put down one way of playing over the other it was simply because I was curious about what people played on and why.
It is answering your question. You asked why, and everything I've posted is reasons why. It might not be the answer you were expecting, the answer you wanted, or an answer you like, but my posts on the whole are indeed a legitimate and on topic answer to the question as it was presented.
No one is putting anything down. Feel free to quote me to back that claim up because it never happened.
You've also posted several misconceptions that are just flat out wrong. Why would I not address them?
I don't even really think this qualifies as an argument really, we're not really arguing about anything. I never said that how you do things is wrong. In fact, all I really did was explain viable alternatives, what I do, and why I do it. You'll notice that much of my previous posts are actually first person about myself and what I do. Again, which is actually answering your question.
I do occasionally refer to "you" but it was always presented as suggestive and as example. For example, "You can play an JRPG the exact same way you can on a console on PC. You can use the exact same controller." Nothing about that is a command. It simply explains a possible option.
I did correct some misconceptions you posted, which is as close to an argument as this has gotten, but you didn't really present a counter argument or rebut any of it. We literally aren't arguing about anything.
You're kind of in a niche corner among gamers. You aren't representative of the norm. No one is going to come to your house with a sledgehammer and break your console and physical games and force you to install a streaming device and a PC that can only use digital media. This isn't some gaming inquisition.
I acknowledged and agreed that some of your reasons are good reasons for playing on consoles over PC. Particularly regarding exclusives or a lack of availability on PC. More than once. I also added an additional reason for why someone might prefer playing something on a console regarding multiplayer. In fact, I'm one of the "both" votes because of both of these reasons, they are legitimate deciding factors.
Still, PC has more options and versatility than consoles, that's simply an objective fact. Not just in regard to graphics sliders, but control options, modding, output options, game and hardware prices, and game selection. Pointing that out is not a "put down". Those are all good examples of reasons why people play on PC. It's also why PC is my preference if it is an option for any game. Which again, is an answer to the question as it is posed in the OP.
Speaking of misconceptions...
Unfortunately, regarding physical copies, PCHeintz is correct. Physical copies don't mean anything anymore.
Just because you own a game on disk, doesn't mean it will work in the future any more than a digital copy will. This is something I learned the hard way.
In fact, if one fails it is very likely that both will, for the exact same reasons.
Sure, with older consoles, that wasn't the case. I'm not talking about that in this case. Having those copies is definitely good, but it doesn't apply with more modern titles unfortunately.
I have consoles. In my experience modern consoles require just as much downloading as PC. In fact, it generally takes longer for a console to download and install something in my experience because they use console servers that limit bandwidth. I don't mean digital copies, I mean disk installs that require download installs to run in addition to information installed from the disk.
The disk itself often acts as a form of DRM as well, requiring the physical media itself to be inserted to verify the installed copy before it will run.
Having a physical copy of a game on the PS4 doesn't mean anything. You don't "own" the game, you just license it for use. It doesn't matter that you bought a disk unfortunately.
Yes, PS4 games do say they don't have DRM, and they are technically not being dishonest because the console doesn't have DRM that ties physical games to the hardware. However, many of those games do require downloads before they will run. DQ XI might be one of those exceptions, but that's just one game and doesn't really debunk my point on its own. Not to mention, even a lot of games that have the full initial install on the disk often require day one patches, because even though the game will technically install and run from the disk they are basically unplayable and broken without the update patches, many of which are massive.
Where are you going to get those downloads if anything happens to the severs, or if support for those games is simply discontinued? Are you going to leave them installed on your system forever? What happens if after that point your hard drive dies and has to be replaced, or you need to format it, or you accidentally delete an install?
Also, regarding the PS4 and DRM, it is worth pointing out that just because a game doesn't require a console verification, doesn't mean that the game itself doesn't have any DRM. Games may still have some level of publisher based DRM. It just means that you can sell a game used, or buy one, or lend it to someone else, and it isn't tied to a specific console.
A lot of PS4 games require an online connection, and not just for multiplayer, but because they need to download information to run properly. It's just not used to verify the game disk.
What all that means is that a game will not necessarily always work forever as long as you have a physical copy. It just means that as long as it does work it will work on any PS4.
How is that really any better than a digital copy?
They don't call it DRM, but it's effectively the same thing. The disk alone will not run the game, doesn't include any updates, and is often effectively just a partial install and download key. It just doesn't check to verify everything every time you boot the game up. It's marketing smoke and mirrors, and everyone does it to some extent, including PC outlets like Steam.
Buying a physical copy isn't security or future proofing. It doesn't guarantee anything, and isn't any more reliable than a digital copy unfortunately. If you think that, you're misinformed.
I own several games as physical copies that do not work anymore, and I mean single player games. There's nothing wrong with the disks, they just can't access online verification and no longer work for whatever reason, or only have partial installs on them and can no longer access the servers to download the rest of the game. There's nothing I can do about it and I simply just can't play those games anymore unless I buy newer versions, which would likely be digital versions.
My physical copy of the original Borderlands is a good example of this. This is true of both the original version, and the GOTY edition. They cannot be installed, will not run, and simply do not work thanks to the DRM. Gearbox and 2K do not support the game's DRM anymore.
In fact, the only way to play the game with a physical copy used to be a tool that let you use your physical copy to get a digital Steam version of the game. This was disabled not long ago right before when the remasters were announced, which is now the only way to play the original Borderlands. If you haven't already transferred your physical copy over to a digital version, you're out of luck.
This is perfectly legal because of how modern game licensing and EULAs work. Physical copies are not exempt, and are no more secure than digital copies are.
That's the unfortunate reality of modern gaming. It's also why I have no qualms whatsoever about emulation of my older games. My copies are permanent copies that don't need online verification and aren't licensed like any newer version I might buy.
If anything, PC DRM for digital downloads tends to be less restrictive overall. A lot of console digital downloads are tied to a specific machine. Nintendo is especially bad about this. Where as on PC they are generally account based. Sony also has DRM for digital downloads, but as I recall it is also account based.
That's pretty much how PC games work too. They aren't tied to particular machines, but accounts. As long as you can access that account, you can generally play the game on any PC. As long as your account works, the servers for the game are active, and the download is available, you should be able to run that game. That's pretty much the same boat you're in even with a physical copy of a game these days unfortunately.
With PC you have DRM free options like GoG. You download it and it's yours. You can copy it to whatever devices you want for your own use as many times as you want. It's effectively the same as a permanent DRM free physical copy as you can easily make permanent physical media with a DRM free version if you want. If anything PC has even more DRM free options than any console, including the PS4. Once a copy is made it will never require any additional downloads, updates, or verification to run.
If anything it's actually a little better, because if a DRM free digital copy of a game updates, you can just make a phyisical copy of the updated version of it and permanently have the most up to date version possible available to you.
You could say that once a PS4 game is installed, it will also never require additional downloads, updates, or verification.
However, I would counter that with the fact that you'd essentially have to eat up a big chunk of a very limited storage space for that. With DRM Free on PC, you can just burn a disk or use a flash drive to make a copy you can use on any PC at any point in the future.
I don't really see physical copies on consoles as any more secure than a digital copy on PC or consoles.
Sure, you might have limited bandwidth and all that, but you're no doubt making downloads for installs and updates anyway, and once something is installed, it's installed until you uninstall it. It's not like you have to download a PC game every time you play it any more than you would with a console game really. It's not really that different. Just another example of a misconception you have about PC gaming.