So what's the deal with GFWL?

[Cronozilla]

I think in all actuality, there needs to be some agnostic open source platform to integrate all these services together, so that no one has a monopoly on it, and it no longer becomes an issue where you're actually playing.

I just don't see games in the online space really progressing past its current problems without it happening ... or someone "winning" and charging an arm and a leg after becoming a monopoly. Which is just about the worst possible option.

[MrPopo]

The only feature I like is achievements you earn on the 360 and GFWL both get added to your gamerscore. Steam's achievement system is the most bare bones system you could have, so it is the only thing GFWL does better.

Almost everything else about it is buggy, broken or done better on steam.

I don't understand how arbitrary numbers assigned to arbitrary tasks is "better" than just having the arbitrary tasks.