there are more single player games out there than you could ever play and you can own them forever.
the move to always online is an attempt to compete with their biggest competition, their entire back catalogue.
if I still gave a shit about new consoles an empty box with a game code or anything with always online would be deal breakers.
PSA: PS3 has a ton of great games you likely never played and shops literally can't give them away right now. why pay over $100 for the remaster that you don't own when you can own the original for $1
Side lining Kowl like this is only slightly worse than Madame Razz talking to Broom