If always-on internet is supposed to be the future of all media, then the infrastructure needs to catch up. Otherwise, DRM needs an overhaul. We need better networks in rural areas, and broadband transfer caps have to go.
We (the U.S.) are currently 9th in the list of connection rankings in the world at this time of writing. This is definitely better than being 20-something on the list I saw nearly a year ago.
Update: We've fallen out of the top 10.
However, anything short of the top 5 is abysmal for a country that houses many of the biggest web-based companies.
To paint a picture, think about a person who has DSL. This person has DSL because it's the only thing available in his or her area. Do you think this person is going to download a Blu-ray sized game on that tiny pipe? Even if this person does take the plunge to go digital, do you think the connection will be stable enough to download this game in a matter of days, possibly a week?
I've had the opportunity to live in many different areas in the U.S. and have had DSL, Time Warner, Comcast, and Cox cable internet. All of the above ISPs have had severe connection issues, to the point where service would be down for hours. Sometimes, the connection speeds would tank, barely offering an advantage over the lowest tier of internet available.
My Comcast, for example, would go out every 2 weeks. In one particular instance, Comcast was out for a whole weekend (3 days consecutive). It was hard to reach the very low 200GB Cap with Comcast because the service was out so often.
So far, Cox has been the best service. That's not saying much, considering they have severe connection issues. Their 300GB is a little more modest, but let's face it, it's not a good level. I recently subscribed to the Ultimate package because my household has nearly gone 300GB over the 300GB limit. Some people are surprised as to how much we've gone over but my answer to them was the same answer I've touted for some time now.
It's 2013. We have Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Mediacomm web based channels, Steam, etc. We watch movies, TV, play games, listen to music, do work, do school, communicate, plan, etc. all on the internet.
The internet goes down often as it is. If you throw a mandatory connection to servers in the mix, where our boxes are heavy paperweights without the always-on connection, then I see a future in media that I don't want to be a part of.