Only time I preordered a game, it was BioShock Infinite for 360. Say what you want about the quality of the game, but I at least got a hardcover guide book and still have it. The midnight release party may have been ass since gamestop decided to go all out by actually doing it¹, but that guide book is pretty amazing, IMO, despite never actually using it. Looks cool.

Nowadays I would never be dumb enough to preorder a game unless I know I'm getting a physical copy. As it is, I got in on some leftover kickstarter goods for Brok The InvestiGator when I ordered my Brok and Graf plushies and it was so worth it since I got an official install disc of the game and a branded USB with the installer, both base game with zero updates. So even if Steam disappears, I can have backups of the base game.

¹ was open for the event but made zero attempt to celebrate of the release