Server connect attempts annoying

[Dowlphwin]

I understand that this is probably for leaderboards, but the game could warn about a failed connection in a way that is not totally annoying. Even when Steam is in offline mode, the game will still attempt to connect, and if there is internet, but blocked by firewall, harass the player with that error message, first delaying the game start by at least a minute and then a popup unexpectedly during gameplay. I want to be allowed to make a choice about whether to send all that gameplay data over the net. I've never had a game this insistent and disrespectful about wanting to connect, and especially for indie games I find this sad.
Nearly all games I ever played are able to instantly recognize a firewall block and stop pestering.
Also, does the dev get paid by Microsoft for recommending a gamepad when it's not at all necessary?

[Spike]

Microsoft screwed them over big time on the SMB release, I doub't they had anything to do with it. It's just a little joke - get over it

[Max Cher]

Devs tend to recommend gamepads for specific games. The Behemoth, for instance, do the same in their Castle Crushers and Battleblock Theater.

[Dowlphwin]

Originally posted by Max Cher:

Devs tend to recommend gamepads for specific games. The Behemoth, for instance, do the same in their Castle Crushers and Battleblock Theater.

Yeah, and they actually work better with keyboard (talking about single player here of course). But their default key settings are a borderline insult, or at least showing a total lack of comprehension of PC game controls.