Ubisoft looks like it wants to join the digital distribution club with their new Uplay software. Similar to other digital distributors like Steam and Origin, Uplay can be used to buy and launch games by Ubisoft as well as other little features like Xbox Live style avatars and an achievement system.
Steam>Origin
In my opinion anyways.
Honestly I agree with you. I had Steam long before Origin was out and I still like Steam over Origin. I'm annoyed that I might have to download yet another digital store onto my PC. >.<
... then Valve released the new Community Beta.
Games>Origin
Games>Uplay
Play the game, don't get played by somebody else's game
but i guess pc gamers could care less about ubisoft.