I wouldn't have a problem paying extra to get a download version in the meantime , like a $10-$15 impatience charge. I went with the boxed version just in case something happened with the download but I was kind of expecting the boxes to ship on 21 March, not take a week or more to hit their distribution center, then take days to get organized for shipping before actually shipping. I've heard that CDs and DVDs burned at home can go bad over time, but the way the CDs are made for mass-production is different and holds up much better - that's why I went with the boxed version.