I think most publishers assuming PC users have their systems networked, which isn't always the case.
This sort of this becomes more imperitive if/when SteamBox comes out (assuming, of course, EA will support it).
They cant expect familys and such to just buy multiple PC's and multiple copy's of the game just so they can play together, when console gamers can just buy 1 console and 1 game. Do they have any idea how expensive that would get! It is so inconsiderate on the developers part because there seems to be this misconseption that PC gamers are all rich when in reality people are transfering to PC because it offers far more content and is cheaper than console gaming, PC is supposed to be about having more options because its an open platform.
Besides a LAN at desktops is not the same kind of comfort or social environment as being on the couch watching one big TV with a PC, Laptop or HTPC pluged in via HDMI, not to mention developers seem to be cutting LAN support from PC games more often these days when console players can still forever have an offline private game in split-screen or system link, whats gonna happen when they shut the servers down on PC, the multiplayer on PC will be completely inaccessable when atleast local or LAN multiplayer features prevent the total death of multiplayer. (I cant even play Crysis 2 multiplayer anymore on PC because they shut the servers down and didn't include LAN support! i can list several other games this has happened to when Local or LAN features could have saved it to an extent).
