Re: Not surprised

"in Windows 8 this is gone - you have to manually tap the icon on the taskbar to bring up the keyboard, then tap back in the text box to return focus, then manually close the keyboard when you're done typing"

I think this has been sorted in the RTM.

Re: media center?

It's mentioned in the main Microsoft article as an "economical add in for Windows 8 Pro" or something like that.

Windows Media Player is a desktop app.

Windows RT will have tablet apps for playing media (I assume/hope)

There's a difference between "Windows Table" and "Windows on Arm"

WOA "denies" traditional apps, i.e. has the locked-down desktop with Explorer + Office.

The Intel/AMD-based tablets will have the full current desktop - but presumably at the expense of battery life, form factor size, etc.

Lets just look at the argument

"These services are provided as a bonus to the original purchaser of the game"

Or, arguably, they are an integral part of the game that someone paid full retail price.

"but why the hell are they expected to provide used games customers—from whom they see not one penny—with said services for free"

For one game disk sold, only one person can play online at any point in time; therefore your (and EA's) justification is null and void. If your/their argument were true, EA could drop $10 from the price of every game, have a $10 "online fee" for every game (new or 2nd hand), and be no worse off. Odd that they're not doing that.

Having said all that, I don't think it's unreasonable for games publishers to look to recoup money from the 2nd hand market somehow, as ultimately it hampers innovation and development in new gaming areas.