Solved: Problems with Mass Effect on PC?

I'm interested in playing the Mass Effect games but I've been reading horror stories about the SecuROM software that supposedly comes with them and how many problems it has caused. I've found some places saying that BioWare finally removed the software after having so many complaints, but then I read something else that's dated AFTER it was supposedly removed saying people are still having issues. So here's my point:

1) Is the SecuROM software still attached to the Mass Effect games or not?

2) If it is, does it really cause all the problems people say it does? Because I've read other reviews that go on and on about how amazing the game was and never even mention it.

3) What exactly does it do? I know it's anti-piracy software of some sort, but what's all this about only 3 "activations?" What does it mean by that, and why might you need to "reactivate" it in the first place?

4) Basic question: have you, the reader of this question, personally played Mass Effect on the PC and had trouble with the SecuROM software?

Any input would be appreciated. There's so much to read from different websites that it's difficult to keep track of what has changed and what's still accurate.

 

Besides occasional lockups (only in elevators, so just quick save before entering) I've never had a problem with Mass Effect 1 or 2.

 

okay good! so what happens if you get stuck in an elevator? lol

so the secuROM thing didn't make it any harder to install or anything?

 

I think they actually solved the elevator problem with later updates, but what would happen was you would enter an elevator, then the sound would start clicking, then the program crashes.

I never had any problems with the secuROM. Only once did it ever ask me to be online for verification, and that was just after installing before it launched the program.