You are absolutely right, life is about choices and EA took that away from us when they bought the rights to football. People are tired of water down products with no effort but to make a buck. I don't think you get it. It's not about some picking sides and don't want Live to succeed. This is mainly about the quality of product that one puts out. People use 2K in comparison to EA for that same reason. So when you hear someone acknowledging 2K Sports, it's not for 2k it's about what they do or have done. We all have a right to voice our opinion and let our voices be herd. After all it's our right and choice as buyers.
When you decide to represent all in which EA chose to do when it bought the rights to football, then this is exactly what you subject yourself to and it's fair critisicum