I still cannot understand why we need a thread this long for something so simple. I believe Turn 10 has an excellent track record, and for them to make a move like this one on a launch game is either 1 of 2 options imo:
1- Launch game, so they are working around the clock and are running out of time, so the need for the day 1 patch.
2- They want to include even more stuff in the final release and to do so they will be working even after the game has gone gold to offer everyone more content for free, which is better to me than buying a 5$ character with a 180kb patch!
I understand the fact that some people won't have access to everything they paid for, but I am pretty sure that the patch will be very small (few hundred megs) and that pretty much anyone that has internet can download such a patch, or go to a friend's place that will let you do it (I could even do it by sharing my phone's 3G connection). Or like someone has said previously, the next batch of discs will most likely come with that patch so those who are 100% sure they will never have access to the Internet in their lives could always wait a few more weeks for it.
I think it is pretty much pointless to keep arguing about the digital future: it is coming, is already highly successful on PC and with music and movies, but you still have the option for the physical release if you want to. Why keep arguing when they did a 180; everyone should be happy now. I for one have ordered 3 Xbox One games for launch physically because I got a 20$ rebate on each, but on my Wii U almost all of my games are digital. Obviously anyone who is mentally sane will go for the cheapest price, and 3 of the games I bought on Wii U (brand new) were on sale in store but not on the eshop, so obviously I went for the physical release. However, games cannot be fully compared to other digital mediums like music and movies. Those other formats are compressed and obviously have a loss in fidelity, while games are the same no matter the format (unless devs decide to compress CG cut scenes I guess), so for me owning a digital collection is a convenience while others apparently cannot see it and feel the need to hold a case in their hands or be able to sell it, which is how I used to be, and now that I have gone almost fully digital with Wii U, I am enjoying it and do not want to go back. It is a matter of opinion, and definitely you can see the trend with a lot of people going towards digital formats, but I think the subject has been discussed plenty and there is no need to try to one up each other by stating jobs and age or whatever would make others believe that what you say is more valid.