SimCity used to be something magical, something visionary and special. It wasn't like other single-player games, where you were just playing out someone else's story, or multiplayer ones, which were about direct competition. Playing SimCity, by contrast, was almost like dreaming--a sandbox where you could explore crazy "what ifs" and learn about the world without suffering the real-world consequences of fucking up. That was pretty much Maxis's modus operandi. I'm not saying they weren't a business, because of course they were. I'm not saying they were the only ones making sandbox games, because we all know that's not true either. But if you read up on the early history of the company (and Wright in particular) they were always about a lot more than just maximizing profits. They didn't always succeed (I was never able to get into SimIsle, personally), but they always dreamed big, and when they did succeed they hit it out of the park.
100% agreed. If there's one good thing about this ongoing debacle, it's that it inspired me to get off my duff, dust off my 2001-vintage SimCity 3000 for Windows CD, and mod it so I can play it on my current Mac. (Thanks, Paulthetall! -- google him if you miss SC3k and only have a Mac now)
SimCity is a wonderful franchise which has been losing its spirit with each passing entry. SC2k and 3k are the sweet spots. Play them and remember how great SC can be.