This is the first time I've so dramatically disagreed with one of your articles.
First off, to target the people complaining about this and calling them whiny gamers is pretty immature and taking a very one sided view on this whole issue.
Next, it's easy to dismiss most of the extra content, but lets take a look at the most recent bit that's grabbed everyones attention. Multiplayer maps. While that might sound like a small thing to most, it can easy fuck up the flow, depending on how the lobby system works. ESPECIALLY for consoles. The maps switch to one of the exclusive ones, and BAM, you drop. Thus destroying the flow of the gaming experience. Multiplayer being one of the biggest draws for certain game types, such as the FPS genre, this is a huge dent. Additionally, charging 15 dollars for two maps? How can you justify that, when those maps are already completed?
Sure, it's easy to say that publishers like EA deserve every dime they get, and you are absolutely right. However, these games net the companies multiple millions of dollars incredibly quickly, and to deny the gamer that maybe cannot afford to buy everything new part of the experience, is not only selling the customer short, but the developers themselves.
The last subject that should be touched on is the used games business. Given the recent problems with our own economy, don't you think it's wise to allow businesses like this to thrive? Especially when it gets the concept of gaming that much more mainstream and accepted?
I see your point, but it's a very one sided view, as I said earlier. I'm honestly quite disappointed in this article as a whole, it's a pretty lousy representation of the value you hold towards us as fellow gamers.