Regardless to whether one believes them poorly or well implemented, they do call to the same intoxicating feeling of progression and improvement that gives some people the "just one more turn" feeling, and any kind of levelling system - they are, in effect, dog biscuits - a boon that you've progressed a little bit or done something good enough.

Some people are more prone than others to be intoxicated, and some people require different kinds of biscuits than others to get the same feeling, but they are really the same thing.

Note, I'm not calling them good or bad (at least trying not to), but I'm trying to call them for what they are.

My point is, that by that measure most game feedback is "dog biscuits". Even positive music after an accomplishment has the same effect as earning an achievement. So does an elaborate kill animation for pulling off a difficult attack, etc.

Indeed.

I miss the old days , when people played PC games and didn't care about community fetures or achievements . Oh well, new generation with new habits .

You mean like this generation?

Really? I don't miss those days. Those games still exist while now we have co-op play and vs. play that we never really had before. The game doesn't even stop when you log off, go take a look at the various wikia sites. No, I don't miss the good old days, that's still possible, and now in addition we have all kinds new stuff that is frankly amazing. No I don't engage in all of it, but sometimes I sit and think about it and I'm kind of amazed.

I always found achievements a cheapskate implementation of unlockables: beat the game or an episode - get something for NG+, gain access to new modes, cheats, stuff. Now you can get away with flashing an unrelated low-res picture and a punny line.

Yeah, Steam doesn't release statistics like Navagon says but CD Projekt did. The last time I checked The Witcher 2 sold ~250,000 through Steam, ~40,000 through GOG, and over 1 million through retail. Retail purchasers (who might have also purchased Skyrim through retail) didn't seem very worried about not having Steam tied in anyway.

Would you do it for a Scooby Snack ?

You mean back when adventure games gave you points ;P ?