Sorry for the previous long post i will try and remember to hit enter more
Thanks for telling me that there is an offline mode for all the steam games that does make me feel a little better but i guess it still does bother me a bit that even when i found the game files the executable's only error without first running the third party program. Just seems like an extra step considering I have already activated the game
I do have a question about offline mode.
Once the game is unlocked the first time and then put in to offline mode do you then have to ever put it back into online mode to play the game again? Or can i just leave it in off line mode forever until either a new patch is needed or i want to buy a new game? or does it default to online mode every time i try and start the game and then i have to turn it off each time? i wouldn't do this any way but just curious.
I have been leaving mine online all the time and it doesn't seem to make a difference.
hmm I guess this also fixes my other concern that if for some reason Steam goes down or out of business or just disappears off the face of the earth (it could happen)

then i can still play the games i bought i would just have to make sure my installation of steam was in offline mode and they would all run just fine correct?