Why even sell a physical box if it has absolutely no benefit over a digital download? I wonder if it's at all driven by desire to trick people who want a physical disk copy (ie, a copy that can be resold or traded)?

Given that people generally expect physical copies to have a disk (at least for console games), it feels like false advertising.

No benefit? I only buy physical (when possible), because then the game is mine. You dont own digital only games, you just license them. I can give back, resell or lend my games and I get a feeling of ownership. I hate the direction the games industry is going.

It's a physical box that contains a download code. You're not reselling that.

Thats exactly what bugs me.

Yes, but understand the exchange you're having:

"Why sell a physical box if it contains no game? There's no benefit to buying it!"

"No benefit? Buying physical means I own it!"

Does it not seem like you're ignoring the actual issue being discussed?

No, they're saying that what is being sold here is being falsely advertized as a physical copy of the game when it is not.

"Why sell a physical box if it contains no game?" Is about this "physical edition" that isn't.

"Buying physical means I own it" is about actual physical editions that aren't lies.