I'm sorry you had so many difficulties with one episode of IE. We usually try to spread them out over several months :-)
To get your scratched disc replaced, contact our tech support at 802 767 1226. They may run you through a few tests to confirm that your disc is not functioning due to damage, and then will make arrangements for your disc to be replaced. As for why Strategy Plus doesn't put their bundled IE discs in sleeves, I don't know - you'd have to ask someone at Strategy Plus.
The MYST demo was a pain in the butt. I just spent a good hour or so unsuccessfully trying to make it run. I'd recommend you call Broderbund tech support at 415 382 4700. They're open from 7 AM to 5 PM, M-F. As for the "Making of Myst" thing, it was a QuickTime movie which was something like 50 or 80 MB in size, so in order to include it, we would have had to whack six or ten articles, something we're loath to do unless somebody pays us.
Finally, the essence of what happened with the Heirs to the Throne copy protection is that QQP gave us a copy of the manual which we assumed (incorrectly, as it turned out) was formatted in a way that would allow you to bypass the copy protection. We've since made up a sheet with all of the copy protection questions on it, which you should have in your hot little hands (having been sent out by our tech support crew) by the time you read this. I'd recommend giving the game a try. It's kind of ugly, and the manual is unintelligible, but the game itself is fun. Kind of like Risk with about 40 kabillion setup options.
I hope you're still considering subscribing, and haven't been turned off by catching us on a bad day. We're not usually quite so messed up, honest . . . ask anybody . . . well, ALMOST anybody . . . OKAY! I ADMIT IT! THEY'RE HIGHLY-TRAINED PR FLACKS PROGRAMMED TO FLOG IE TO ANYONE WHO PASSES WITHIN 4 FEET OF THEM!
