[mindslight]

I don't disagree with your gist, but does Steam actually manually solve the examples you gave? It seems like part of the value add of outsourcing comes from the negativity of a policy not directly reflecting on your own business. If you refuse to hunt down a check (or even stop accepting checks altogether), a customer might switch to another ISP. But if your third party mechanically refuses, it's "nobody's fault". Even if the customer expends the effort to escalate and they're a big enough customer for you to listen, you can still salvage it as a positive CS experience.

[dageshi]

I'm assuming Steam handles the application of regional sales tax/VAT based on country of purchase (that would apply in the EU I think?) that alone might be worth it? Not to mention they have a really good/fast distribution system.

[kbwt]

Worth more than the entirety of the VAT? I think not.