What does it really matter what form EA are using to allow a game to run, copy protection or to stop cheat factor?
It's what they believe is the best course of action, business wise, marketing. Origin is a media that once fully implemented allows them to add DLC, advertisements for other game tittles and so forth. Look how Stream was once hated by many and is now widely accepted.
I too can't stand the numerous hoops the player must now jump through to buy some games, play that game, especially when for the better part all of those extra features now required can cause all sorts of issues.....
I thrashed BF1942, plus expansions and BF2, little clowns ruined those games. I know the pain EA can cause the player! Yet with over 182 000 PC players online as I type this I doubt EA sweet the small stuff, in they're eyes....