Ppl downloading shit is awesome but in reality it's no better than choosing cdm over the real thing. You can't expect improvements if theirs no funds to make them happen.
Infinity Ward can suck my big fat hairy cock. At least for the PC release. I can not stand the console-style multiplayer matchmaking. If you've ever played any other COD with a decent mod and dedicated server, you'd understand.
I'm going to make a point of downloading this for free to play the single player, and only that until someone hacks it to use dedicated servers. I own cod2/4/5 but I will never own mw2 until they take the console bullshit from the PC version.
FYI when a game goes "gold" that means the final retail dvd master has been finalized. This means initial copies are already on their way to reviewers and whoever has to do that verification crap, but with an NDA to keep them from using/playing/pirating it. Obviously it only takes one person to spread it. If you think they finalize the master a day before release, you are required by law to make future girl/boyfriends to swallow to prevent spreading your failure seed.