The game knows when you have just completed a significant challenge, or are just about to encounter one. The checkpoint or autosave is relatively seamless and does not interrupt gameplay. It also prevents situations in which you die and lose 30 minutes of progress.
The limited edition is just that, limited. Unlike the standard editions, which they can procure essentially unlimited quantities of, they need a count for the "collector's edition".
Valve most likely makes much more money on TF2 now that it is free. People pay real life money for hats. They also buy games that they might otherwise not bother with, simply for more TF2 hats. There are a lot of people with money and a desire for digital hats.
As soon as Valve determines how to make money from CS in the same way it will go free.
I find myself to be quite the opposite. I almost always go with the default character design, name, history, etc. I suppose some people may feel a deeper connection with their character if they have customized it, but it pulls me out of the immersion of an RPG. I just want to play the game in the way the designers envisioned it.
The game review industry needs regular blockbusters just as much as the studios do. This is what generates traffic to their sites and puts ad revenue in their pockets.
Additionally, reviewers know that proven franchises have dedicated fans. These people demand high scores for their favorite game series, as it validates their decision to obsessively follow it. If a reviewer goes against the grain and provides a realistic score then the fans will simply go elsewhere for reviews that agree with their preconceived notions.
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