I'm the kind of person who thinks cooperative gameplay - when done right - enhances my enjoyment of most games by a factor of ten. I felt that way about Neverwinter Nights, Diablo, Icewind Dale, Dungeon Siege, and many others.
When I heard about this a while ago, my interest went from very high to very low.
I realise that I'm in a minority, but the funny thing is that most gamers in my circle feel exactly the same way. Maybe it's a cultural thing?
I know that in Denmark, being a relatively small place, it's not uncommon to have LAN setups with friends. Getting some PCs in a car and driving for 15-20 minutes is all it takes in most cases. I wonder if the short distance is a factor.
Maybe I'm imagining a difference, but it really seems like the average US gamer doesn't care about LAN or multiplayer in CRPGs - unless we're talking MMOs. I don't know, but I know that playing with your friends - next to each other - is typically a LOT more fun than playing against the computer or some strangers online.
It's unfortunate for someone such as myself, because the trend is definitely MMO or singleplayer for PC CRPGs.
Sad...