Umm, unless you guys can Steamworks the key for me, no way.

I bought Sins retail upon release. Never picked up the expansions. Eventually had to move my install over to Impulse, which I never used for anything else. That got sold off, Trinity was released on Steam at a cheaper price than I could get the two expansions, and so that is my Sins install now. Sins sits comfortably with 95% of my games, and I like that.

I know Steam isn't everyone's fancy, but I'll pay the extra $10 to keep Rebellion neatly nestled in my games library if that is what is needed. Sad I'll miss the beta, but I'm ok with that as well.

Again I don't really see people's obsession with Steam.

Maybe I am not into it which would be odd since I am 16 and I should be into this but I just don't turst the dam thing. If Steam somehow dies on us than all those games in that "Library" can go along with it. There have been cases where the ban accounts and the person loses hundreds of dollars worth of games.

Too me seems to big of a risk.

Steam's chances of ever going belly up are very very low.  And they have said many many times that if it ever comes to that, they will make a way for people to get their games rather than forever locking them from it.  I currently sit well over 300 games on steam (http://steamcommunity.com/id/TheComplex), and when trinity came out for steam, I bought it again through steam and uninstalled impulse.  I was one of the first week buyers for the first sins and even have the shirt they sent to people who bought it and uploaded a picture of themselves with the box.

I am going to go out on a limb and buy the preorder through stardock, but if it links to impulse, i will consider it a waste of money.  I will NEVER install impulse again.

The beta is through Stardock directly. There is no longer any association with Impulse. If you bought Sins while Impulse was still owned by Stardock you'll soon be able to download the game through Stardock instead as well.

Actually after I purchased I looked at "My Downloads" through their site.  Demigod is listed and can be downloaded through them, and my purchase of trinity through steam.  The impulse expansions and original box are not listed as downloadable.  I hope that is because I have trinity through steam and downloading them separately is just considered a waste or something.

Currently the store just has the latest releases of each game. If you have individual games/expansions as well, they're not on there for the time being (but should be eventually). Trinity, Demigod, Elemental, and GC2 Ultimate are all available as direct, standalone downloads with no client.

New app, same name. However we will (already do, for the major ones) also offer products through the website for direct standalone download as well.

I'm also wondering about this. I get the same thing described above and when I go to my account at the stardock.com store it only shows sins/entrenchment/diplomacy - not rebellion (which I did preorder during the last preorder special).

Go to my account once logged on to the Stardock store and there should be a "my pre-orders" button.

I don't see why they can't just attach a steam key to the email or download page if were already getting the digital download.  Humble indie bundles did this and it was super easy. 

A lot of people like steam because most of their game collection resides there and its super easy to setup games on multiple machines that way.  Its much easier to right click X games to install on a new machine than it is to flip a disc for every single game you want to install.  Seriously its so easy. 

Can we get some kind of official word on the preorder allowing us to have the game in Steam?  I understand the beta only being on Stardock, but I'd like to get the game itself on Steam.

Island Dog is an official representative of the company.

+1 for this, I preordered right away, cuz it's such a steal at 29.95! And it's a game I know I'm gonna spend a lot of time on. But it's practical for me to keep it in steam, and let steam handle all software upgrades and install/uninstalls and such

I pre-ordered this back when it was previously on offer back in September, and its showing on my pre-orders menu. However, I recall it saying that I won't be charged until the Beta is up and its not showing on my orders history. The problem is the card I think I used on the pre-order is due to expire at the end of the month. Is there any way for me to check what card I used and, if necessary, change it?

Well, a non steam game  can be added to the Steam client without problem...

On the top menu... games > add a non Steam game to my library ... and steam begin scan for ALL applications/software... not only you can add games but you can add application too... you can add your e-mail software, your open-office software, everything...