Software that requires unnessecary constant internet connectivity

I bought a logitech harmony remote a while back and last night needed to reconfigure it, so I fire up the config tool and sit watching connection errors. I finally followed a link to the support web site only to see "routine maintenance" was in progress. I'm left frustrated and wondering why a connection is always required to just reconfigure a couple of buttons on the remote. Why not cache some data locally and have an offline mode?

I had the same issue with my slingbox which I use to stream tv to another room, when I moved house I had no broadband for a week or so - I could not retune the slingbox without internet connectivity as this is required for authentication, again puzzlement and frustration.

Now in the last few days I've been reading about Ubisoft and issues people have had with their "always need to be connected" DRM solution, I'm very glad I've not bought the product involved.

Until the internet achieves utility status (like electricity or water) it seems a huge assumption and big risk to release products that rely on "always on" connections where an offline mode seems entirely possible. I think some packaging that says "Needs an internet connection" needs to be revised to say "Needs a constant internet connection to function at all"

To introduce an unnecessary single point of failure is in my book poor design or poor decision making process, especially where most of the impact of the associated risk ends up with the consumer.