Hello,
even if dongles have been cracked before, i bet this sim would not have gained the attention of "pirates" or better "unsatisfied customers", if there had been a dongle instead of the online requirement.
This first step is every player is being forced to be online,
next step will be to charge money for the time played = generating constant cashflow, not only once for buying (or better leasing since you also do not really "own" your game any more), but constant paying.
That said, so even with a perfect uncrackable security solution (be it a dongle or whatever) which does not involve online connection, Ubisoft will not be able to charge money for your online playing, and that is where the whole thing is heading.
This DRM model is not about respecting and shielding digital rights. it is about more cash.
1. step: Make the people believe they do not own the sim, but only bought the rigth to play it. No sold copies, but licenses, that have to be paid for as if you really call something your own - which it is not.
2. Introduce forced online connection, and justify this with cloudy terms like "customer protection", "anti piracy measurs" or "helping the inventors to keep their digital rights"
3. Yet to come: Charge money for every second played, verified and charged online. WoW works this way, and the next MS Office also will.
The future lies in "cloud computing", and the heads of software companies also seem to be exactly there, in the clouds. No oversight and complete loss of basis and customer wishes. Cash flow is the holy cow, or golden calf.
Greetings,
Catfish