"Looks like we did something to piss off the Internet."
Understatement of the century. Ill sum it up...
You have had top youtubers tell you that valve have done wrong (these are the MOST lenient)
Valve had ruined prominant modders images (several modders whose works where loved by many, that have chosen to get on bored with this which is not many btw, have now got few fans left and ALOT of hate for selling out)
Valve has ruined its own image, even if steam support is a peice of shit and your refunds policy is terrible at least you where known to be cheap and reliable, but trying to take a big juicy cut of OTHER PEOPLES WORK just for hosting the mods through your platform? Despicible, outright despicible.
This is impressive, you even have the circlejerk pcmasterrace who usually priase YOU (you gabe newall) you even have THEM hating you!
Mod piracy now exists, we now live in a world where the word "mod piracy" is NOT a joke like it should be :D
And gabe, I will be honest I don't know if you are a co-owner of valve, full ceo or etc. But clearly this idea would have come across your desk at one point or another, and I gotta ask... just how involved where you in this project? Because this is... EA, Ubi, Dice NONE of them, have been able to wreck a brand so quickly and effortlessly like your company has done.
Honestly if you have been away the last few days it REALLY should NOT take you long to see what everyone here wants, an optional donate button...
This issue is EVERYWHERE, gaming media outlets, reddit, steam fourms, skyrim tags and reviews, hell the top mods on the workshop AND nexus are satire mods ripping the piss outta Valve and beth atm, there is one mod in-paticuler that does fit nicely.
It adds a NPC called "Beth" outside whiterun who sits on top of a valve and asks for gold, thats it, she wears luxury clothes and jewelery and is clearly in no need of more gold but wants more gold anyway.
I'm done, its unlikely that you will see this post but in the off-chance you do pls PLS just ether add a FULL donation button without you or beth taking such an absurd cut of the profits OR just turn back the clock on hwo steam is, get rid of the paid mods program all-together, valve wont be seen as week or anything because of it, infact it is the best way to gain some of the face that valve has lost since it shows you can admit when your wrong and are willing to listen to the community.
Really do hope you will the samrt, right and obvious thing and stop this current system, thats all I have to say.