Modern Warfare 2 - No Dedicated Servers - WTF?

BASHandSlash.com has some very interesting information on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

Here are the snippets:

• We're doing a lot on the backend to make the game accessible for everyone.
• There is no delay for the PC version of MW2
• There's prestige mode
• Jason West at the MP event, said that he was dead on, on the matchmaking servers. We've been building a system on the backend called IW.NET.
• You are completely reliant on IW.NET. There are no server lists. There are no dedicated servers.
• You have private matches where you can customize the game
• You cannot put MW2 on a dedicated server.
• This is the first time we've ever done something like this and the team has huge plans for what IW.NET develops into.
• Customizing your game...you have quite a few options in a private match
• You're getting same game (as in Console), plus matchmaking and private match.
• Server admin point-of view, NO DEDICATED SERVERS

I've summarized some of my own thoughts from the cast here:

 General

• IW partnering through Steam is what you will see in the future. Matchmaking is not through Steam, but IW.NET is run in conjunction with Steam.
• GSP's will no longer be renting out servers.
• No PunkBuster. VAC will be used as an anti cheat.
• Retail distribution: Pre-orders will get a disk. Or you could order from Steam.
• DLC may now need to be paid for - not confirmed.
• Piracy was only a small reason for going to IW.NET - not the whole reason.

 Clans:

• No more clan servers. Private matches, replace clan servers.
• Listen servers will connect to each other.
• IW.NET/Steam will replace the community server admin 

Competitive Gaming

• Competitive gaming has changed as we know it.
• It might be possible in the future for IW engineers to load a "competitive" setting on IW.NET, but it is far from a guarantee. It might also never happen.

Modding

• Modding the game is now very much in question. Fourzerotwo had no info on modding. However, it appears that there will be no community mods or maps for MW2.
• Modding in SpecOps? Unknown.