I don't think at launch that it's reasonable to expect the epic store to compete 1-1 on features with steam, they have to start somewhere.
You're defending a storefront where you can't even find out for most of their games if they have multiplayer or not. You're really telling me they are unable to implement some of the most basic functionalities, like a frikkin' forum or user reviews? They've got millions to throw at publishers but can't be arsed to implement some basic functionality? They're not even trying...
In a year if they haven't significantly improved then I'll agree with you.
I really don't care what might happen in a year or not. It could be the best thing since sliced bread, it could be not, it's all hypothetical. What we can discuss however is what's there right now, and that's not a whole lot.
I am a STRONG believer that Valve needs competition no key resellers are NOT competition when one way or another gamers are still on steam.
You're such a STRONG believer that you forego reason for shady anti-consumer business practices backed by a sleazy Chinese holding company. Steams popularity so far has been largely in the interest of PC gamers. That's not reasoned argumentation, but blind dogmatism. I'm all for healthy competition, but not like that.
Valve have had a stranglehold on developers and gamers and have shown with time that they've gotten lazy and complacent.
GoG and all the other digital storefronts (Origin, BattleNET, Uplay) don't count? That's some real selective thinking right there. Valve doesn't have a "stranglehold", they are popular because their client offers excellent functionality as well as consumer-friendly services.
Minimal improvements on their client...
Have you not seen the timeline that I've posted above?
No they're not, they are gobbling up game products by throwing money at publishers. You're free to support that sort of competition, but so far you've presented not a single sane argument why the PC community should be supporting these sleazy practices.
If even the author of the books your games are based upon is reacting like that, you know you done f*cked up.