I could get this digitally and be playing at 11pm my time, just like I did with Forza Horizon 2.
OR, I can go to a Microsoft launch event and have fun and stuff (and not even worry about spoilers) yet if I do that I won't get home until around 1:30am or 2am, and then if I had to install and download? We're looking at around 3am at best. I'm already "sacrificing" time by getting it physical cause I want to take part in a social event for Halo I look forward to for years (literally live for those kind of nights) and the 20GB download is just too much salt on the wound IMO.
I do believe 343i will make this right and make it available to everyone, but they need to know enough people care.