Quote Originally Posted by Tonuss View Post
I neither need nor want the boxes/CDs/etc, I just want the game. Pre-ordering means that I get only what I want, which is the data. Having to go to the store (or ordering through mail order) and getting five boxes with DVDs and books and packaging when all I really need is a couple of GB of data simply isn't very efficient. I was really glad when I learned that they were going to allow digital pre-orders.

Edit to add: I upgraded five accounts. Once I started playing again after a couple of months off, I decided to consolidate my characters into five accounts and forget the rest. I didn't really need to upgrade the five prior to release, but I figured I'd get it out of the way and not worry about it.
I think EatCarbs was talking about the "in-store" preorder where you pre-order from the local shop and then go pick up your reserved copy on release day. Assuming that is what he was talking about, I agree that it's probably pointless considering there will be a bajillion copies of WoW:Cataclysm on the shelves. Smaller towns or rural customers I might see wanting to do that just from a limited availability angle.