Constructive Download Manager thoughts:

• Should not be a system level or integrated application.  It should be stand alone, launchable, etc.  Fully controllable.

• Should keep track of what computers are associated with a user and what content is on each.

• It should be flexible.  At least two, if not more, methods of operation.

** Suggested Method 1 - Old School

*** Should allow users to download installers for storage/archiving.

*** Should be aware of the store and purchases made since last invokation.  At launch it would offer to download all purchases since last run.

*** Should also be aware of the last date that installer was downloaded and know that installer has been updated and automatically offer to redownload it when the download manager is invoked.

*** Does nothing else. :) 

** Suggested Method 2 - The Novice

*** Should download content from the store automatically.  Either via installers or individual files

*** Should place that content in the default content directory structure. Either by silently running installers or by placing it there directly.

*** Should know when that content is updated and automatically patch it.

 

There are probably more ideas, but those are mine.  Fwiw, I love Steam.  I have only purchased a single boxed copy of a game since Steam came along.  It launches only when I want it to, if a game is updated, it patches it transparently, etc.  It's been very good for me.