Capcom vs... Microsoft?

[Vipershark]

Again with a crackdown example, it had one of the best ways of handling DLC also.
Essentially, the way it worked is that it came with one free DLC pack and another paid DLC pack.
The free one was basically a game update/upgrade, while the paid one actually unlocked content like weapons and cars and stuff.

However, if you didn't get the paid DLC but played Co-op online with someone who did, the game would allow you to temporarily use all of the paid stuff until your online session with that person was over, essentially making it a "try-before-you-buy" type thing.

All games should do that if they have DLC.

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But DLC as far as downloading new things is fine, as much as I dislike it.

It's pretty much a development company's way of being lazy

"Bugs? bah, I'll fix it in the DLC"
"Actually make better maps/graphics? bah, I'll add it in the DLC"

Not only this, but gimping the source game to be lazy as you said, or providing the full experience after a separate purchase just to make a quick buck is a really dick move.